People ex rel. O'Farrell v. Johnson , 215 Ill. App. 580 ( 1919 )

Mr. Justice Eldredge

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is an action of debt brought to recover damages upon a bond executed by H. W. Johnson, sheriff of Christian county, and several of his sureties, appellees. The declaration consists of three counts and is based upon the wrongful levy by Johnson, as sheriff, upon certain personal property of Winifred 0 ’Farrell. Appellees filed- a special demurrer to these counts. The first cause set out in the demurrer has not been argued and is therefore not before us for consideration, probably, for the reason that it is entirely without merit. The second and fourth causes are the same and to the effect that the damages sought to be recovered in the second count are not within the written obligation. The third cause is to the effect that the declaration shows on its face that the cause of action is barred by the statute of limitations and there are no averments which will take it out of the operation of the statute?

On September 20, 1918, the record shows that the demurrer to the declaration was sustained. On October 21, 1918, the following appears in the record:

“This day come the parties to this cause by their respective attorneys, and the Court having heard the evidence produced herein, the arguments of counsel, and being well and sufficiently advised in the premises, finds the issues for the defendants and against the plaintiff.

“Therefore it is ordered by the Court that a judgment be, and the same is hereby rendered against the plaintiff in favor of the defendants for the amount of the costs in this behalf expended herein, and that they have execution therefor.”

The record nowhere shows that appellants abided by their declaration after the demurrer thereto had been sustained. The court had no authority to hear evidence in a suit where there was no declaration and find the issues for the defendants and render judgment on such finding after a demurrer had been sustained to the declaration. Appellants should have been ruled to file an amended declaration by a day certain and, upon their failure to do so, the suit could have been dismissed for failure to comply with the rule. If appellants had abided by their declaration, then the proper form of judgment would have been that they take nothing by their suit and that defendants go hence without day, etc.

The demurrer, however, should have been overruled. The fact that the second count may have alleged certain damages which are not recoverable under the law with others which were recoverable would not make that count subject to demurrer, as on the trial only such damages would be permitted to be recovered as were authorized by law. As to the statute of limitations, that defense in an action at law cannot be raised by demurrer, but only by plea. This is an elementary rule of common-law pleading and has been applied even when it appears on the face of the declaration that the limitation has expired. Gunton v. Hughes, 181 Ill. 132; Heimberger v. Elliot Frog & Switch Co., 245 Ill. 448.

The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to overrule the demurrer to the declaration.

Reversed and remanded with directions.