Gregory v. . Hobbs , 93 N.C. 1 ( 1885 )

The defendants do not plead in the present action that the cause of action alleged in the complaint was alleged or litigated at all in the former action, but they insist that the cause of action now declared upon ought to have been properly set forth and insisted upon in the former action, and, as it was not, it is lost and the plaintiff has now no remedy as to it.

This contention of the defendants rests upon one of two assumptions: First, that the cause of action of the present action is essentially a part of that of the former one; or, secondly, that the cause of action in the present one not only might have been united with that of the former one, but must have been; otherwise, it ceased to be actionable.

(3) In our judgment, neither of these assumptions has any foundation. The purpose of the two actions, and the causes of actions alleged in them, respectively, are not the same, but entirely different. The object of the former was twofold: First, to obtain the equitable relief of having the defendants declared to be trustees holding the legal title to a lot of land for the plaintiff, and to have such title conveyed to him; and, secondly, to obtain possession of the land.

These causes of action are different in their natures — the character of the allegations necessary to be made in declaring upon them — the character of the defense made to them — in the issues of fact and law raised by the pleadings and in the proofs, from the like things in respect to the cause of action in the present action. The former action, in respect to the causes of action set forth in it, had distinctiveness, oneness, and completeness, without adding the cause of action in the present one; indeed, if the cause of action in the present one had been included, it must have been done by adding new and distinctive allegations, thus raising additional and different issues, both of law and fact, not at all necessary to a determination of its merits.

This action was brought to recover the rents and profits of the land mentioned for the period the defendants had unlawful possession of it. The cause of action has, if well founded, such distinctive nature and completeness in itself as that it is capable of being litigated and completely determined alone. This makes it a separate cause of action. The mere fact that it is a result of the causes of action of the former action does not make it necessarily a part of them.

It is not questioned that the present cause of action might have been united in the same complaint with the causes of action alleged in the former action. Indeed, the Code of Civil Procedure (The Code, sec. 267, paragraph 5), recognizing the distinction we have pointed out, provides that "claims to recover real property, with or without damages for the withholding thereof, and the rents and profits of the same," may be united in the same complaint, whether they be legal or equitable. But this does not imply that such claims or causes of actions (4)must be so united. The statute is permissive — it provides that such causes of action may be so united — the language employed is, "the plaintiff may unite in the same complaint" the different classes of causes of action specified.

The purpose of this provision is to enable and encourage a plaintiff to avoid multiplicity of actions by uniting several causes of action of certain classes in the same action without encountering the danger arising from the common-law rule in respect to duplicity in pleading. But it does not compel the plaintiff to do so — it is left discretionary with him. It would seem that generally he would, on the score of economy and convenience, observe such practice, especially when the causes of action are simple — not attended with complexity; but there might be good reasons why he would not in some cases, as where the causes of action are of different natures, of great moment, present numerous issues, and involve voluminous and complicated facts. The common law does not generally allow such upon of causes of action of different natures because it leads to prolixity, the multiplication of issues, and confusion. In cases where it is very important to have the issues of fact thoroughly tried by a jury, it is not well to submit a multiplicity of them together — the plain minds of jurors do not readily lay hold of and get a steady and clear perception of several submitted together. The statute has, therefore, wisely and on purpose, left it optional with the plaintiff whether or not he will unite in the same action two or more different causes of action of the classes designated.

This construction of the statute referred to, it seems to us, comports not only with its terms but as well with its spirit and purpose. It is a literal copy of the New York statute on the same subject, and the courts of that State construe it as we have done. Livingston v. Turner, 12 Barb., 486; Vanderoot v. Gould, 36 N.Y. R., 645; Larned v. Hudson, 57 N.Y. R., 153; Bliss on C. P., sec. 132; Pom. P. R., sec. 494.

(5) There is error. The judgment of nonsuit must be set aside and further action taken according to law.

Error. Judgment accordingly.

Cited: Roper v. Wallace, post, 26; Asher v. Reizenstein, 105 N.C. 217;Tyler v. Capehart, 125 N.C. 68; Austin v. Austin, 132 N.C. 267; Windersv. Hill, 141 N.C. 703; Shakespeare v. Land Co., 144 N.C. 521.