Lockhart v. Power
Lockhart v. Power
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Margaret Power, Sarah Power, Maria Power, Alexander Power, Louisa Power and William Power, heirs of Alexander Power deceased, assignee of Ephraim Hunter, and Thomas Lewis, Enoch Passmore and wife and others, heirs of Lewis Lewis deceased,
The rule is well established that if too many persons be made co-plaintiffs, the objection, if it appear on the record, may be taken advantage of, either by demurrer, in arrest of judgment, or by writ of error. 1 Chitty’s Pl. 54; Cooke et al. v. Batchelor, 3 Los. <$• Pul. 150; 2 Saund. 116 a, note 2; Worsley v. Charnock, Cro. Eliz. 473.
No good reason can be shown, I apprehend, for exempting an action of partition from the operation of this rule. It being a real action in its nature, and particularly from the nature of the general issue that is appropriate to it, if there be any difference between it and mere personal actions of tort, it is that the rule seems to be applicable to it, when too many persons are made co-defendants, as well as where too many join in becoming co-plaintiffs, which is not the case in personal actions for tort. 1 Chitty's Pl. 75, 76. As where there were two joint tenants for years, and one suffered a stranger to occupy his moiety with him; the other brought a writ of partition against his companion and the stranger, supposing that his companion had granted a moiety of his part to the stranger. The stranger showed that he was but tenant at will to the companion, and so the writ was abated. Beedle v. Clerke, Cro. Jac. 218.
The judgments and all proceedings in the case are reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.