Seaman v. Goodnow

Wisconsin Supreme Court
Seaman v. Goodnow, 20 Wis. 27 (Wis. 1865)
Downer, Downes

Seaman v. Goodnow

Opinion of the Court

Downer, J.

The appellant’s counsel maintains that the circuit court erred in overruling the demurrer of the appellant to the complaint, because three several causes of action are improperly united: 1st. A cause of action against the banking *30corporations, to recover property, or its value, belonging to the Milwaukee, Chicago and St. Louis Steam Towing and Freight Co. 2d. A cause of action against certain defendants as delinquent stock subscribers. 3d. A cause of action against some of the defendants as directors, founded on sec. 28, ch. 73, R. S.

We are of opinion that the complaint does not set out a cause of action under sec. 23. That section provides that ‘ ‘ If the president, directors or secretary of any such corporation shall intentionally neglect or refuse to comply with the provisions of, and to perform the duties required of them respectively by, the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth sections of this chapter, such of them so neglecting or refusing shall jointly and severally be liable, in an action founded on this chapter, for all the debts of such corporation contracted during the period of any such neglect and refusal.” It is not averred in the complaint that any of the directors or officers of the company intentionally neglected or refused to comply with the provisions of, and to perform the duties required of them by, those sections: and also other essential allegations are wanting to make a cause of action founded on that chapter, or the 23d section of it. We agree, however, with the attorney of the apellant so far as this, that if there were a cause of action set out under that section, it could not be united with the others.

The two first named causes of action may be united. Winslow v. Dousman, 18 Wis., 456.

By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed, with costs.

A motion for a rehearing was afterwards denied.

070rehearing

Downes., J.

The appellant insists, in his argument on a motion for rehearing, that the complaint does set out a cause of action against some of the directors, founded on sec. 23, chap. 73, R. S. It is said, it alleges a refusal to make at the July or January following the organization of the company, the annual certificate required by section nineteen. We think it does not set *31out the refusal with the particularity required. It does uot ayer that the debt of the plaintiff was contracted after such omission or refusal, and before the making of the next annual statement thereafter. This was necessary; for if the annual statement was made at the January or July immediately preceding the contracting of the plaintiff’s debt, it is obvious the plaintiff has no cause of action under section 23.

Eor these and reasons given in the previous opinion, the motion must be overruled.

By the Court. — The motion is denied.

Reference

Full Case Name
Seaman v. Goodnow, impleaded with, others
Status
Published