79 Mich. 287 | Mich. | 1890
One Eli H. Salisbury made affidavit in behalf Of plaintiff, and procured the issue of a writ of replevin against the defendant. The requisite bond was also filed. On the return-day of the writ, Salisbury appeared for plaintiff. .The defendant answered in person, and moved to dismiss the writ, because plaintiff’s full Ohristian name did not appear in affidavit, writ, or declaration. The justice returns that he asked Mr. Salisbury if he could amend, and insert full Ohristian name of H. 0. Fisher, and Mr. Salisbury replied that he could not, as he did not know the full Ohristian name of said Fisher. Thereupon, the plaintiff being unable to amend, the justice dismissed the case, and rendered a judgment of nonsuit against the plaintiff, together with 83.25 costs of suit. Salisbury, in the name of H. C. Fisher, sued out a writ of certiorari to the circuit court of Wexford county, where, on hearing, the judgment of the justice was reversed. The case comes here on writ of error from the circuit.
It is contended, in support of the judgment of the circuit, that any mistake in the name of the plaintiff must be taken advantage of by a plea in abatement. Pleading in justice’s court is not required to be technical. The effect of defendant’s motion was the same as a plea in abatement. The plea was also admitted when Salisbury, who appeared for plaintiff, said that he could not amend because he did not know plaintiff’s full name. This was equivalent to saying that H. C. Fisher was not the true or full name of plaintiff. The justice was then warranted in dismissing the case, as Salisbury did not ask for time to ascertain plaintiff’s name, who it appears lived in Chicago, 111.
A person sued has a right to know who is making claim against him. If the plaintiff plants the action himself, there is no hardship in requiring him to plead his proper name in full. If the suit is commenced by an agent, who is not acquainted at the time with the full Christian name of his -principal, it is certainly his duty to ascertain and plead the same before or at the time issue is joined, and there is no good reason why he should not do it.
I think the judgment of the justice was correct, and should be affirmed, with costs of this Court and the cir