82 S.E. 842 | N.C. | 1914
This action was brought by the plaintiff J. S. Campbell, in behalf of himself and, as next friend, in behalf of his son, James Campbell, a minor, to recover damages for supplying impure water to the (489) said minor, whereby he became ill with typhoid fever, causing him great physical and mental suffering, and whereby the other plaintiff, his father, was put to great expense in taking care of him and effecting his cure, lost the benefit of his services, and suffered great mental anguish on account of his sickness.
Defendant demurred upon the ground of a misjoinder of parties and causes of action.
At the hearing upon the demurer, the court, at the request of plaintiffs, permitted J. S. Campbell, suing in his individual capacity, to withdraw, as a party, from the action, and ordered the case to proceed as to the other plaintiff, James Campbell, by his next friend, J. S. Campbell, with leave to replead if he desired to do so.
Defendant excepted and appealed.
After stating the case: The defendant contends that there was a misjoinder of parties and causes of action, and in support of its contention relies on the following authorities: Cooper v. Express Co.,
It may be conceded that there was a misjoinder of parties and causes of action, and Thigpen v. Cotton Mills, supra, seems to be "on all-fours" with this case in that respect; but this concession does not justify the conclusion that the court erred in permitting the withdrawal of the father, as a party, and allowing the action to proceed further in the *430 name of the son alone as plaintiff. It would not have been proper to divide the action into two — one in the name of the father and the other in the name of the son, for a division is authorized only where "the causes of action alone are distinct," as said by the Chief Justice in Cooper v. Express Co., Supra, where the facts were similar. But (490) this is not a division of the action, allowing each to proceed by separate action in his own name, but a retirement by one plaintiff, leaving the action to be prosecuted in the name of the other as his action, with proper amendment of the pleadings for that purpose.
It is provided in Revisal, sec. 507, that "the judge or court may, before and after judgment, in furtherance of justice, and on such terms as may be proper, amend any pleading, process, or proceeding by adding orstriking out the name of any party; or by correcting a mistake in the name of a party, or a mistake in any other respect; or by inserting other allegations material to the case." It was held in Jarrett v. Gibbs,
Defendant could not be hurt by the amendment, as it asked for no affirmative relief, but is entitled to its costs. Gatewood v. Leak,
Plaintiff J. S. Campbell could withdraw or submit to a nonsuit at any time before verdict or decision adverse to him. Gatewood v. Leak,
(491) Where there is an improper joinder of causes of action, and defendant's demurrer thereto is allowed, there may be a severance of the causes, or a division into as many actions as may be found necessary for the proper determination of the causes of action so misjoined (Revisal, sec. 476), but not so where there is a misjoinder of *431 parties and causes of action. In that case a demurrer on that account should be sustained, unless, as in this case, one of the parties withdraws himself with his cause of action, leaving only one plaintiff, with a single cause, or with several that may be properly joined in one action. In the latter case, the reason for refusing a division where there is a misjoinder of parties and causes does not apply. It is not, in fact or in law, a division of the parties and causes, but an elimination, which reduces the unwarranted number to one only, or leaves the process and pleading in unobjectionable form.
The view we have taken of this question appears to be sanctioned by the Court in Tripp v. City of Yankton,
However the rule may have been under the ancient system of pleading and procedure, the liberal practice introduced and authorized by our present Code, which disregards technicalities and seeks to try and settle controversies upon their merits, sustains the decision of the court in this case. Revisal, sec. 507.
We have not considered the validity of the plaintiff's cause of action, preferring to wait until the new complaint is filed and the matter is brought before the Court upon that pleading, which may entirely supersede the old one.
No error.
Cited: McLaughlin v. R. R.,
(492)
