Western Grocery Co. v. K. Jata & Co.

The trial petition in this case contains the following allegation as to parties:

"That K. Jata Co. is a partnership consisting of K. Jata and * * *, with its main office at Madera, Mexico.

The statement of facts show that the partnership was composed of K. Jata and K. Fujita, and the judgment was entered in favor of the two last named as plaintiffs against the Western Grocery Company, defendant, for the amount sued for, from which this appeal is taken.

The first assignment is that the verdict and judgment are void because the suit is brought in the name of a partnership, which has no such legal entity as to authorize it to sue as such.

"Partnerships are not recognized by law, either common or Texas statutory, as constituting separate and distinct legal entities, and therefore the right to sue or be sued in the partnership name is not conceded to them in our courts; and litigation by or against partnerships must be conducted in the names of the individual members of the firm, and not in the firm name." Townes' Texas Pleading, p. 251.

The statement of facts shows that there were two members of the firm, and the judgment entered is in favor of one of them, who was never a party to the suit. It therefore cannot stand. Speake v. Prewitt, 6 Tex. 252.

The error is fundamental, and objection may be made by plea in abatement (De la Vega v. League, 64 Tex. 205), or by general demurrer, or by suggestion of fundamental error on appeal (James P. Hanner and Wife v. Summerhill, 7 Tex. Civ. App. 235, 26 S.W. 906). See Townes' Pleading, p. 288.

This conclusion will dispense with the necessity of considering the other questions presented.

Reversed and remanded.