Smith v. Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad , 31 Del. 503 ( 1921 )

Pennewill, C. J.,

delivering the opinion of the Court.

It is well settled by the decisions in this state that each count of plaintiff’s declaration must set out a complete cause of action. And one reason for the requirement is that if one or more counts are stricken out, each of the remaining counts may be good and complete in itself.

It is stated by Woolley, in his work on Delaware Practice, §§ 343( second paragraph), 344, and 345, that—

“Sec. 343. In all cases in which there are two or more counts — whether there is actually but one cause of action or several — each count purports upon the face of it to disclose a distinct right of action, disconnected with that stated in any other count, so that upon the face of the declaration there appear to be as many different causes of action as there are counts inserted. And, therefore, whether a plaintiff whose declaration contains more than one count, claims a recovery upon one right of action only, or upon several, cannot appear, except in evidence — ” citing Gould’s Pl. c. 4, § 3; 1 Chitty’s Pl. 455.

“Sec. 344. One object proposed, in inserting two or more counts in one declaration, when there is in fact but one cause of action, is , in some cases, to guard against the danger of an insufficient statement of the cause, where a doubt exists as to the legal sufficiency of one or another of two or more different modes of declaring. But the more usual end proposed, in inserting more than one count, is to accommodate the statement of the cause, as far as may be, to the possible state of the proof to be exhibited on the trial, or to guard, if possible, against the hazard of the proof varying materially from the statement of the cause of action; so that if one or more of the several counts should not be adapted to the evidence, some other of them may be so” — citing Gould’s Pl. c. 4, § 4; 3 Black. Com. 295; 1 Chitty’s Pl. 445, 446.

“Sec. 345. The plaintiff has in every case a right to insert in his declaration as many counts (each one being in itself single) as he pleases; and in actions of trespass on the case (especially in assumpsit) it is the usual practice to insert, though often unnecessarily, two or more [citing Gould’s Pl, supra; Lawes, Pl. 73], If any one of several counts in a declaration be proved (although the proof of all others should fail), the plaintiff must recover upon it, unless it be radically insufficient in law. For by maintaining one good count he established a complete right of recovery. And for the same reason, if on demurrer to the whole declaration, any one of the counts be adjudged sufficient in law, the plaintiff will be entitled to judgment on the count, though all the others be defective [citing Gould’s Pl. c. 4, § 6; 1 Saund. n. 9 (2d Ed.) 171]; the judgment being either final or of respondeat ouster, at the election of the defendant [citing Laws of Delaware, vol. 21, c. 303], The pleadings in a case cannot be used as evidence (citing Craig v. Burris, 4 Pennewill, 156, 55 Atl. 353); therefore the presence of different or contradictory counts or pleas is in no sense dangerous.”

In every count except the first the plaintiff has failed to state the time or date of defendant’s alleged negligence, and it is contended by the defendant that such counts are, therefore, insufficient.

We are not aware that this question has heretofore been passed upon by the court, but we think the date of defendant’s negligent act should be averred. It is essential to give defendant knowledge of the case he must be prepared to meet.

The defendant also contends that the entire narr. is bad because it is nowhere stated whether the plaintiff was driving the automobile that was struck by the defendant’s train.

The averment in each count is that at the time of the collision the plaintiff was riding in the car that was struck and demolished. It may be that if the plaintiff, at the time of the accident was driving the car, it is his duty to aver that fact in his narr., because the degree of care to be observed by the defendant might be greater if he was operating the car than it would be if he was simply riding in the car. But, if the plaintiff was riding in, and not driving, the car, he was not bound in his pleading to negative the fact that he was driving. If he was driving the car, it would be better and safer to amend his narr. by stating the fact in every count.

It is further contended by the defendant that it is incumbent on the plaintiff to aver in each count of his declaration that he was, at the time of the collision, in the exercise of due care and caution on his part. Nowhere in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth counts is such averment ‘made. While it is usual in an action for personal injuries for the plaintiff to aver that he was in the exercise of due care and caution at the time of the accident, we think it is not necessary, and hold that the counts are not bad on that account. The failure of the plaintiff to observe proper care and caution is a matter of defense, and it is not essential that he should, in the statement of his cause of action, negative such failure. 31 Cyc. p. 109, § 15.

The defendant’s contention that plaintiff’s third count is insensible is not sustained. The objection that the street could not approach the railroad crossing is entirely too technical.

The defendant claims that the sixth count of plaintiff’s narr. does not disclose in what manner the defendant was negligent. In this count it is averred that “through the negligence and carelessness of the said defendant as aforesaid the said automobile of the plaintiff was struck and demolished,” and that is the only allegation of negligence contained in the count. Manifestly, this is not a complete or sufficient statement of plaintiff’s cause of action, because no negligence at all is averred except by reference to other counts. This, as we have above stated, is insufficient. Each count must contain in itself a statement of the cause of action.

The demurrer is sustained as to the second, fourth, and fifth counts, because of plaintiff’s failure to aver therein the date or time of the accident, and also as to the sixth count, for the same reason, and for the additional reason that it contains no sufficient averment of the defendant’s negligence.

The demurrer is overruled as to the first and third counts.

The declaration in the second case contains three counts; the causes of demurrer to which were:

(1) That the said several counts are uncertain.

(2) That the said first and second counts do not inform the defendant whether the plaintiff was riding or walking at the time she was run into and struck, or, if riding, whether or not she was driving the conveyance.

(3) That the averments of negligence in the said third count are argumentative.

(4) That no date is named in the said second count.

The contention of counsel for plaintiff was the same as in the first case.

Pennewill, C. J.,

delivering the opinion of the court.

In this case the defendant contends that the counts are bad.because they do not show whether the plaintiff was riding or walking at the time she was injured. The court are of the opinion that the averment, “the plaintiff was lawfully crossing the tracks,” is not sufficient. The defendant is entitled to know in what manner the plaintiff approached and attempted to cross the tracks, whether walking or riding in a motor vehicle. What might constitute negligence or contributory negligence in one case might not in the other.

The second count is also defective because of its failure to state the date of the collision; and this count, as well as the third, is insufficient because it does not state a complete cause of action. Each must contain a full statement.

The demurrer is, therefore, sustained as to all the counts.