Warner v. Turner , 57 Ky. 758 ( 1858 )

Judge Stites

delivered the opinion of the court.

The Porters sued Warner on two notes transferred to them by Haden. During the pendency of the action the plaintiffs transferred and assigned the notes sued on to Thomas Turner, without recourse. Afterwards, on Turner’s motion, and without any objection on the part of appellant, tbe following order was made:

J. The right of a pl’tiff may be transferred pending the action, and the suit ^rogreBB as bro’t or. the name of She assignee substituted for that of the pi’tff, &e. (Civ. Code, see. 32.)

“ On motion of Thomas Turner he is substituted ‘ in the record as plaintiff in each of these causes, ‘ upon condition that he be responsible for all costs, ‘ past and future, and that henceforth these two ‘ causes be docketed in the name of said Turner, and ‘ the costs Charged to him. The court being satis- * fied as to the solvency of said Turner, no security ‘ is required of him.”

Subsequent to this order Turner took the depositions of the Porters to be read on the trial of the causes. They were objected to as incompetent, but the objection was overruled, and an exception taken; and judgment having been rendered for Turner, Warner has appealed.

The only point relied on for reversal is the decision of the circuit court admitting the depositions of the Porters; and this, we think, cannot avail for that purpose.

The Civil Code of Practice provides that, “ where ‘ the right of the plaintiffis transferred or assigned ‘ during the pendency of the action, it may be con- ‘ tinued in his name, or the court may allow the per- ‘ son to whom the transfer or assignment is made to ‘be substituted in the action, proper orders being ‘ made as to the security for costs.” Civil Code, 32.)

The manifest object of this provision was to facilitate the transfer and assignment of notes and other ckoses in action, on which suits have been brought, and to enable the assignee to assume all the rights as well as the obligations and liabilities of his assignor. But in accomplishing this purpose due regard is paid to the rights of defendants in such actions, by requiring of .the court all “ proper orders as to security for costs.” It was never contemplated that the provision would be perverted to improper purposes by a construction that would enable a plaintiff at his option, to shift from his own shoulders any responsibility he had incurred for costs, to an irresponsible or insolvent assignee, and thus deprive the defendant of a judgment against the former; nor do we think it fairly susceptible of such construction; nor has it, in our opinion, been made to operate in that way in the present case.

2. Where a right of action is assigned pending the suit, and the assignee substituted for the pi’tiff, and the court is satisfied with the solvency of the assignee,and requires no security for costs,and def’t does not object to the action of the court when done, he will not be heard in this court. 3. An assignor of a cause of action in a suit pending without recourse is a competent witness for his assignee.

The order authorizing the substitution appears to have been made without objection, and seems to have had in view the protection of the appellant from any loss resulting from a change of plaintiffs. It makes Turner responsible for' past and future costs, and, being satisfied as. to his solvency, the court dispensed With security. It must-be assumed, from the failure' of appellant to'object to this order, that it was made with his assent, and the effect of such assent was a waiver on his part of all claim upon the original plaintiff for costs; and an implied agreement to look to Turner alone, who would certainly have been directly responsible.

The effect of the order thus made was to release the Porters from all liability for costs, and inasmuch as their assignment to Turner was without recourse, no perceivable objection then remained tb their competency as witnesses, and we think the exceptions were properly overruled.

Wherefore, the judgment is affirmed.