Cahoon v. Wis. Central R. R. , 10 Wis. 290 ( 1860 )

By the Court,

Paine, J.

This action was on a promissory note, executed by the R. R. Co., and indorsed by the other defendants. Separate demurrers were filed by the company, and the indorsers, which, on motion, were adjudged frivolous, and judgment entered for the plaintiff. From this judgment all the defendants appealed.

It is claimed, in the first place, that notice of assessment by the clerk should have been given. We deem this clearly unnecessary, as no assessment was necessary. The complaint was verified, and section 158 of the code only requires an assessment by the clerk, when the complaint is not verified; and this view is fully sustained by the authorities cited in support of the objection. Cook vs. Pomeroy, 10 How., Pr. 103.

it is also urged that an affidavit should have been filed that no answer had been received. But this cannot be required. Jt is true that section 179 provides that on a judgment for the plaintiff, on an issue of law, he may proceed as prescribed by the first two subdivisions of section 158, on failure to answer. But this can only mean that he is to proceed under section 158 so far as that can be applied consistently with the reasons that entitled him to judgment. Where the whole proceeding is under that section, it is the failure to answer that entitles him to judgment, and of course he must prove a failure to answer; but where he is entitled to it, on an issue of law found in his favor, under section 179, then a failure to answer is not the reason that he is entitled to judgment, and he cannot be required to prove it. If this was held requisite, the party whose demurrer had been adjudged frivolous, might immediately serve an answer, and thus deprive the plaintiff of his judgment.

We think the demurrer of the R. R. Co. is clearly frivolous, but the majority of the court think that of the indorsers not so. The note was payable to the plaintiff or bearer, and had never been transferred ; and there is much in the books to suggest a doubt whether they can be considered as in-dorsers, in the strict sense and meaning of the term; an in-dorsement generally importing a transfer of the instrument. There are many decisions that would hold them as makers, or guarantors. But this doctrine has been much questioned, of late; and the precise effect of an indorsement of this kind does not seem to be so clearly settled as to bring this demurrer within the rule as to frivolousness. In Dean vs. Hall, 17 Wend., 222-3, the court, under just such an indorsement as this, held the parties liable as indorsers ; but there the note had been negotiated by the payee, and the court expressly state, that if the action had been brought by the payee, without any transfer, it would present a question of some difficulty. It, may appear upon examination, that these parties are very clearly liable as indorsers. We only say now, that it is not so clear as to come within the decisions of this court as to frivolousness, which are, that it must be apparent on a mere inspection, without examination or research, that the pleading is utterly invalid. Farmers’ and Millers’ Bank vs. Sawyer, 7 Wis., 379; Van Slyke vs. Carpenter, id., 179; Martin vs. Weil, 8 id., 220.

The judgment, as against the Railroad Company, is affirmed, with costs; as against the other appellants, it is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded.