Roberts v. Adams , 6 Port. 361 ( 1838 )

GOLDTHWAITE, J.

This in an action of assump-sit on the common counts; and the only question which is presented for revision, arises out of the bill of exceptions, taken by Roberts on the trial of the cause — by which it appears, that the plaintiff and defendant were the co-sureties for Ross and Roberts, to a promissory note. .on which Adams was sued, and compelled to pay. No proof was adduced to show the insolvency of Ross and Roberts. On the evidence, Roberts requested the Circuit court, to instruct the jury, that before Adams could entitle himself to a recovery, the insolvency or inability of Ross and Roberts must be made apparent. This instruction. was refused, and the refusal is here assigned as error.

Since the case of Cowell vs Edwards^* it has never been questioned in England, that one co-surcty 1ms a right of action against another, as soon as he is compelled to pay the debt for which they were joint sureties. Nor has a contrary doctrine ever been asserted in this country, except in the Ciato of Kentucky. In the case of Pearson vs Duckham,^† court of Error and Appeals of that ¡átate, in a ease which cannot be distinguished from the one now before us — decided that tl to right of one surety to recover from another, his proportion of the money paid on account of the suretyship, was dependant on the insolvency of the principal debtor. The grounds on which the decision Is made to rest, are two fold — •

1. That the action at law, is derived from the courts of Equity, and that such courts never decree in favor of one surety against another, unless the principal debtor is insolvent; and—

2. That because the legislation of that State had given a summaiy remed3^ in favor of one against another co-surety, when the principal debtor is insolvent, this must be regarded, as a legislative exposition of the law of co-suretyship.

The first of these positions would he very difficult to sustain on principal or authority, for it is no where laid down, that the allegation of insolvency, is one which is -either,necessary to he made or supported by proof. The principal debtor may be a necessary parly to the bill, but is alone so, on the ground that he is interested in the subject matter of the suit, and perhaps also in the object of it, and his presence may be necessary to enable a chancellor to scale the claims of all the parties. Indeed, it might very frequently he a matter of great doubt, whether the principal debtor was able to respond for any portion of the sum paid; and the right of contribution would thus be made to depend, not on fixed principles of justice and equity, but on the prosecution of a suit which might or might not be available, according to circumstances.

The second position on which the case cited is made to rest, is common to this State; for wo have a similar statute to that of Kentucky, which authorises one co-surety, who has paid money on a judgment, to move against another, for his proportion of the debt, when the principal debtor has proved insolvent.

We cannot yield our assent to the proposition, that the enactment of this statute is equivalent to a repeal of the previous law in relation to co-sureties. The legislature might well refuse to give a summary remedy to one surety against another, when the principal debtor was solvent, and yet not intend to make the recovery, in other modes of proceeding, dependant on the fact of insolvency.

It does not admit of question, that the rule as laid down in the case of Cowel vs. Edwards, before cited, is the existing law of co-suretyship, and that the right to sue is consequent, on the legal payment of the money, for which the sureties are justly hound.

The judgment is affirmed.

* 2 B. & P. 268.

† 3 Littel, 384.