Duffy v. Pinard
41 Vt. 297
| Vt. | 1868

Tbe opinion of tbe court was delivered by

Prout, J.

Tbe question arising upon this bill of exceptions, is, ;should tbe suit have been dismissed for tbe reason that tbe pro-chein ami was recognized for costs ? Tbe objection is taken by the defendant both by plea and motion, and is based upon that provision of tbe statute (Gen. Sts., ch. 33, § 5) which provides that, “ unless there be sufficient security given to tbe defendant, by way of recognizance, by some person other than tbe plaintiff,” the writ, on motion, shall abate. In tbe county court tbe question was determined upon thq motion to dismiss, and that court decided fit insufficient, and rendered a judgment for tbe plaintiff. As idaimed on tbe argument, if tbe prochein ami is tbe plaintiff in tbe suit, then tbe motion should have been sustained, and tbe suit -dismissed. .

To enable infants, or persons under age, to maintain an action, •they must bring their suit not only in their own name, but by ¿guardian or their next friend. The admission of tbe prochein *300ami into the suit for the purpose of prosecuting it on bebalf of the infant, the real party in interest, is, in modern practice, not only implied from the recitals or statement of the declaration, but, in the absence of any question being made, is supposed to be allowed and assented to by the court before whom the action is pending. The necessity of thus bringing the action by infants, arises from their legal incapacity, incident to minority, either to appoint an attorney to act in their behalf, or properly to attend to or take care of their interests as involved in the suit. The purpose and object, therefore, of allowing an infant to commence and prosecute-his suit in his favor by prochein ami, is apparent. It is to manage the suit for the infant, to protect his interests; and the duty of the prochein ami, as related to the suit, is the same as that of an agent or attorney as between competent parties, appointed or employed to manage a cause in court. It is true he is joined in the suit, his name appearing upon the record, but it is in this capacity, and is for conformity to the nature of the proceeding, and as showing his relation to the cause, and which of itself indicates to the defendant, as well as to the court, that he is not the real party in interest, but that the infant is, who thus sues bp prochein ami. Upon this record, then, who is the plaintiff in the action ? Authorities are not wanting that have a bearing upon the question, and afford some light upon the subject. In Morgan v. Thorne, 7 M. & W., 398, where the subject was under consideration, Alderson, B., says: “ Where a party can not sue for himself, the court employs a prochein ami, as its officer to conduct the suit for him.” The case of Sinclair v. Sinclair, 13 M. & W., 638, was an action brought by an infant, who sued by his next friend and father. On the trial the prochein ami and his wife were offered as witnesses for the plaintiff, who were objected to by -the defendant, as inadmissible. They were admitted, and the question the court were called upon to determine, was whether the prochein ami was a party to the suit or not. If he was, the wife of the prochein ami was not admissible as a witness. PollocK, C. B., says: “lam of opinion that he is not a party, * * * but is merely to be considered as an officer of the court, specially appointed by them to look after the interests of the infant.” Parke, *301B., expresses bimself as “ of tbe same opinion.” Brown v. Bull, 16 Vt., 673, was a petition to be allowed a trial as upon an appeal from a judgment recovered by; an infant plaintiff in a suit .prosecuted by his next friend. Tlie petition was against, and served on, tbe infant, no notice being taken of, or service made -on, the prochein ami. Tbe question was reserved, on a motion to •dismiss because of this variance in the description of tbe parties. Hebard, J., who gave tbe opinion of tbe court, says: “ Tbe next friend is not regarded a party for any purpose. * * * * Whether, in any event, be may be liable for costs, does not determine the question.” And in Bonett, by his guardian, v. Stowell, 37 Vt., 258, a case presenting tbe same question arising in Sinclair v. Sinclair (supra'), Kellogg, J., says: “ In this case, tbe guardian was not a party to tbe cause of action which was in litigation, but was merely tbe manager and conductor of tbe suit for the infant, who was tbe real party. * * * He was not a party to tbe suit in such a sense as would exclude bis. wife from testifying as a witness on the trial.” These cases, if not conclusive, throw some light upon the question, as to tbe real relation of a person admitted into the suit merely for purposes of prosecution. As a witness, as these cases bold, the prochein ami is unaffected by the relation, and, in the case of tbe recovery of a judgment in .a. proceeding where this relation existed, in a petition brought for the purpose of opening it as upon appeal, he is not a neces.sary party. If the prochein ami is not a party plaintiff for these purposes, and affected by all the consequences resulting there from, as witness and party, it is difficult to see how be can be so regarded for the purposes contemplated by the statute relied upon. No sound reason occurs to us, and none is suggested, why there should be any distinction in this respect; and in view of the object of the statute, which is merely security for payment of costs, we are disposed to construe it as referring to and meaning tbe complaining or real plaintiff in tbe action. Upon this construction, the defendant has other security for costs than the plaintiff, .and the fact that the person thus recognized appears on the record for another purpose or object, can make no difference.

*302We are unable to discover that any inconvenience or injustice can result from this construction, or that it does violence to the moaning of the provision referred to. The defendant has the liability of the infant and a remedy against him to rely upon, as well as against the person recognized for costs; and if, at any time in the progress of the litigation, the defendant is in danger of loss in consequence of the insufficiency of the security for-costs, he can, as in other cases, apply to the court, who have ample power to make such order in that respect as the case may require.

The judgment of the county court, we notice, was in chief for the plaintiff, but, in view of the agreement, the judgment of the . county court is pro forma reversed, and cause remanded, with. liberty to the defendant to replead upon the usual terms.