National Exchange Bank v. Abell , 63 Me. 346 ( 1872 )

Appleton, C. J.

The declaration contains four counts, one in debt on a judgment recovered in Rhode Island, one in debt on the same judgment including the cost of levy, one upon a note of hand by the indorsee against the maker and a general count for money lent, paid, laid out, had and received, &c.

The authorities all concur that an action of debt may be maintained upon a promissory note. An indorsee may maintain an action of debt against the maker. Wilmarth v. Crawford, 10 Wend., 340 ; Raborg v. Peyton, 2 Wheaton, 385. So it lies on a quantum meruit a.nd quantum valebant. Smith v. First Cong., &c., 8 Pick., 178.

The defendant demurred generally to the whole declaration. The count on the judgment is not questioned to be correct. The objection to the other counts is, that they are not technical in form. They allege an existing liability on the part of the defendant and a promise to pay in consideration thereof.

In Norris v. School District, 12 Maine, 293, the motion was made in arrest of judgment that counts in debt and assumpsit were joined. In delivering the opinion of the court, Parris, J. says: “In the case under consideration, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant, being indebted, promised to pay. This is setting forth a contract, upon which the law says either debt or assumpsit will lie. If the indebtedness only had been alleged, it would have been sufficient in an action of debt. Is it so insufficient as to be the ground of arresting the judgment, because of the allegation that the indebtedness was admitted by an express promise ? If the indebtedness had been directly alleged, the declaration would be good on special demurrer. As it is, we think it is not so defective as to require us to sustain this motion.” In Payne v. Smith, 12 N. H., 34, the motion was made in arrest that the declaration was neither in debt nor assumpsit, the objection to the counts being similar to those applicable to some of the counts in the declaration under consideration. But the motion was overruled. “In 1 Chitty’s Pleading, 348,” observes Upham, J., “it is said that debt on qua.ntum meruit and quantum valebant counts resemble those in assumpsit, except the words ‘agree to pay,’ are usually inserted instead of ‘promise to pay.’ This is, undoubtedly, the more accurate form, though we do not regard it as essential. Debt will lie on a promissory note, Martin v. Root, 17 Mass., 222 ; Mandeville v. Riddle, 1 Cranch., 290. In such case the evidence shows a promise to pay, which is sufficient; and if sufficient as a matter of evidence, it would seem to be sufficient in the declaration.”

The further objection was taken that' the count contained no allegation per quod actio accrevit, and that the count should so conclude. “The answer to this exception is,” say the court, “that the declaration complies with the rule in substance. ‘The declaration, after stating the legacy and assets received, alleges that the executor assented to, and promised to pay the same, whereby the defendant became liable to the plaintiff to pay said legacy,’ which is equivalent to saying, ‘whereby a right of action hath accrued for the same.’ In either case, it is a mere assertion of liability to a suit, and, after verdict, we have no doubt, it is a sufficient allegation that a right of action has accrued.”

These cases show conclusively, that, if there had been a verdict in this case, a motion in arrest of judgment would have been overruled.

In Downer v. Shaw, 3 Foster, 125, the court held, in debt on a foreign judgment recovered in another State on a promissory note, that the declaration might be amended by adding a count on the note. “The plaintiff,” remarks Perley, J., “might originally have joined a count on the note with his count on the judgment. This is a usual precaution in actions on foreign judgments, and then, if the judgment is found to be invalid, as it was in this case, the plaintiff may recover his debt in the original form.”

The-demurrer is general. It has repeatedly been held that a general demurrer to a declaration containing several counts, is not to be sustained, if any of the counts are good. Blanchard v. Hoxie, 34 Maine, 376.

The counts on the note are to be regarded as defective counts in debt. The defendant is called to answer in a plea of debt only. There is no count in which the defendant is required to answer to a plea of the case.

Besides, we think, as the demurrer is general, that the defendant is in no better condition, than he would be in case after verdict he should move in arrest of judgment, and it has been seen that such motion would be overruled. Exceptions overruled.

Cutting, Walton, Dickerson, Danforth and Tapley, JJ. concurred.