Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1903

Slater v. Fehlberg

Slater v. Fehlberg
Supreme Court of Rhode Island · Decided January 7, 1903 · Rogers, Stiness, Tillinghast
54 A. 383; 24 R.I. 574; 1903 R.I. LEXIS 132

Slater v. Fehlberg

Opinion of the Court

Tillinghast, J.

(1) There is a fatal variance between the writ and declaration in this case, and hence we are of opinion that the action must be dismissed.

The form of action set out in the writ is trespass on the case ; while that set out in the declaration is trespass.

(2) Our statute relating to amendments is not sufficiently broad to enable the court to permit the form of action to be changed. *575 Wilcox v. Sherman, 2 R. I. 540 ; Thayer v. Farrell, 11 R. I. 305 ; Barnes v. Mowry, ib. 422 ; Bowling v. Clarke, 13 R. I. 650 ; Vaill v. Town Council, 18 R. I. 405 ; Wilson v. Ry. Co., ib. 598. See also Hobbs v. Ray, ib. 84.

Leon L. Mott, for plaintiff. Francis Colwell, Albert A. Baker, and Frank T. Easton, for defendant Parker. Frederick Bueckert, for defendant Pehlberg.

(3) As a variance like the one in question may be taken advantage of at any stage of the case, the mere fact that the general issue and other pleas were filed by the defendants before taking the objection is immaterial. Rathbun v. Ry. Co., 19 R. I. 463.

The case is remanded to the Common Pleas Division, with direction 'to dismiss it.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.