95 So. 343 | Ala. | 1923
Epperson, the plaintiff, brought his action for damages against the First National Bank of Reform, joining counts for false imprisonment and for malicious *13 prosecution. After the court had sustained demurrers to counts 3 and 5, plaintiff amended his complaint by striking the remaining counts, and then took a nonsuit, as the judgment entry recites, "on account of the adverse ruling of the court with respect to the demurrers to counts 3 and 5, and gives notice of appeal to the Supreme Court." The evident purpose of the plaintiff was to bring the rulings against his counts 3 and 5 into review in this court, as provided by section 3017 of the Code, and we find no sufficient reason for holding that he has failed of his purpose. True, the combined effect of the court's ruling and the plaintiff's motion to strike was to eliminate his complaint but plaintiff was in no worse case than he would have been had his complaint contained only the counts against which the demurrers were leveled, in which case he would have had — and so did have — the alternative of pleading over or appealing, as provided by section 3017 of the Code.
Counts 3 and 5 are for false imprisonment. The defendant is a corporation, and the allegation in both counts is that "defendant's servant, agent, or employee, while engaged within the line and scope of his employment, unlawfully caused," etc. It is argued on behalf of the trial court's ruling that the allegation of the counts is not sufficient to charge defendant; that the action for damages for false imprisonment is in trespass (Rich v. McInerny,
Reversed and remanded.
ANDERSON, C. J., and GARDNER and MILLER, JJ., concur.