Reynolds of Reynolds v. Torrance
Reynolds of Reynolds v. Torrance
Opinion of the Court
It it a rule of law that the replication,
should answer the whole plea. 5. Comyn’s 431. So here, as the plea goes to the whole condition of the bond, the plaintiff ought to have replied that he neither had performed one of the covenants, nor the other contained in it. It may be true that the defendant has not prosecuted his bill to effect; but he may have performed the award of the Court, and so saved the penalty of his bonds. Or, for any thing that appears to the Court, the case may not yet have been decided. The replication, therefore, is clearly bad. But at is said in argument that on a bond with a condition to perform Covenants, the plaintiff can only assign one breach. This was the old law; but since the statute 8 and 9. William III. C. 11. The practice has been otherwise. 1 Chitty on Pleading 556. 1 Saunders, 58. 2. JY. Y. Term Reports 328., and the cases there cited. It will be found that the modern practice has been to allow the plaintiff to assign as many breaches, in his rep
The next question then, is, whether the defendant, who has put in his demurrer, has not himself committed the first fault, in not setting forth in his plea which of those covenants he has performed. In 1 Sanders, 116. n. 1. it is laid down that when the condition of a bond consists of several particular things to be performed by the obligor, he cannot plead a general performance, but must set forth particularly in his plea, how he has performed each particular thing. In the present case the condition of the bond requires the defendant to prosecute his bill to effect; or on failure thereof, to abide by and perform the decree. He could not do both, because one is dependent on the other. If he has prose-’ euted his bill to effect, he cannot have, performed the decree, for there could have been none against him. If he has performed the decree, he cannot have prosecuted his bill to effect. He ought therefore to have stated which he has performed. Sometimes this mode of pleading is cured by the réplica
In this case I agree with my breth- , ren, that judgment must be given on the whole record; that-the plea is defective, and that the court ought to go back to the first fault, and give judgment on that. But I - doubt whether the first fault is not with the plaintiff. By craving oyer of the condition of the bond declared on, and setting it forth in the plea,. it became part of the declaration. 5 Com. Dig. 479. The replication ought to be conformable to the court, and answer the whole plea. The plea is admitted to be imperfect; but if the plaintiff does not demur to the defendant's defective plea, but replies, and by his replication shows that he has no cause of action, judgment must be for the defendant. Com. Dig. Pleader, u. 3. If the plaintiff had made an idle replication, and the defendant had not relied thereon, judgment must be given
I concur with the other members of the Court in opinion, that the motion should be granted, so far as r-'-spects the amendment; and that both parties may have leave to amend, without paying costs* See 2 Burr. 820. 2 Wils, 173.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Thrusly Reynolds of John Reyolds v. Andrew Torrance and others
- Status
- Published