Seigler v. Southern Ry.

Supreme Court of South Carolina
Seigler v. Southern Ry., 67 S.E. 296 (S.C. 1910)
85 S.C. 345; 1910 S.C. LEXIS 242
Hydrick

Seigler v. Southern Ry.

Opinion of the Court

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Hydrick.

During the progress of the trial in the Circuit Court, plaintiff’s attorney announced that he had found that the order appointing the guardian ad litem for plaintiff, who was not of age when the action was commenced, had, by some oversight, not been signed by the clerk, and asked leave to have the clerk sign it nunc pro tunc; and, failing in that, he asked leave to amend his complaint, by striking out the allegation of plaintiff’s minority and the *346 appointment of a guardian ad litem, and to continue the action in the name of the plaintiff, as he was then of age.

The presiding Judge refused both motions, in a formal order, in which he says that he would have granted one or the other, if he had had the power to do so*.

1 Under the liberal provisions of sections 194 and 195 of the Code, as to the allowance of amendments, there can be no doubt that the Court had the power to grant either motion, and should have done so. Boyce v. Lake, 17 S. C., 481. As the plaintiff had become of age since the commencement of the action, the proper method of procedure was to strike from the complaint the allegation as to his nonage and the appointment of a guardian ad litem, and continue the action in his own name.

2 Moreover, the plaintiff’s capacity to sue was not in issue. As to the allegation of the appointment of a guardian ad litem, the answer was “that the defendant has no knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief.” In Steamship Co. v. Rodgers, 21 S. C., 27, it was held, “this is only one of the modes of making a general denial,” and such a denial does not put in issue the plaintiff’s capacity to sue. Blackwell v. Mortgage Co., 65 S. C., 116, 43 & E., 395, and the cases cited.

Reversed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Seigler v. Southern Railway
Cited By
4 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Amending Pleadings — Guardian ad Litem — Minor.—A Circuit Judge during trial may grant a motion to have an order appointing a guardian ad litem signed hy the clerk then nunc pro tunc or he may grant a motion to strike from the complaint all allegations referring to the minority of plaintiff and appointment of guardian if minor has arrived at his majority, which is the better practice. 9. Capacity to Sue — Minor.—Answering the allegation of appointment of guardian ad litem by saying defendant has no knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief, does not put in issue plaintiff’s capacity to sue.