73 A. 408 | N.H. | 1909
As between the lex loci and the lex loci, the former governs both in torts and contracts, in respect to the legal effect and incidents of the acts. Whatever would be a defence to this action if brought in the state where the transactions took place is a defence here. Beacham v. Portsmouth Bridge,
When the law of a sister state becomes material, it is to be proved like any other fact. It cannot be assumed, or found without proof. Taylor v. Barron,
As the case now stands, the rights of these parties are governed by the common law as understood and applied in this state. The "stubborn and inflexible principle of the common law" (Andrews, J, in Hendricks v. Isaacs,
But it is urged that if a wife has no standing in a court of law she has in equity, that the issues have been tried and a bill in equity has been filed as an amendment, and that therefore she should now have a decree for the amount of the verdict. That she may proceed in equity is settled by the great weight of authority.
"But courts of equity, following in this particular, as in most others, the doctrine of the civil law, have always recognized the wife as possessing a legal entity apart from that of her husband.
The moment that the separate existence of the wife was admitted, it followed that the impossibility of recognizing any contractual relations between them at once disappeared. Therefore, courts of equity have never refused to enforce such contracts merely because of any difficulty springing from the common-law doctrine of the unity of husband and wife. The courts do not enforce all contracts between husband and wife, because the power is an equitable one, and to be used for the best interests of all the parties, including their interest as husband and wife. 2 Sto. Eq. Jur., s. 1368; Bisp. Pr. Eq., s. 114." Garwood v. Garwood,
"The unity of husband and wife, by which the legal existence *293
of the wife was deemed to be merged in that of her husband, preventing them from contracting with each other as if they were two distinct persons, never prevailed in courts of equity. It may be more accurate to say that courts of equity disregard the fiction upon which the common law proceeded, and are accustomed to lay hold of and give effect to transactions and agreements between husband and wife, according to the nature and equity of the case. A court of equity does not limit its inquiry to the ascertainment of the fact whether what had taken place would, as between other persons, have constituted a contract, and give relief, as a matter of course, if a formal contract be established, but it further inquires whether the contract was just and fair, and equitably ought to be enforced, and administers relief where both the contract and the circumstances require it." Andrews, J., in Hendricks v. Isaacs,
The contrary holding in Massachusetts finds no support in other jurisdictions and is opposed by a strong minority of the court. Fowle v. Torrey,
Even as to rents and profits, which ordinarily belonged to the husband, the wife may be entitled to relief under some circumstances. Barron v. Barron,
It does not necessarily follow, however, from the fact that the wife has, or may have, rights enforceable in equity, that the case has been properly tried in an unmaintainable action of assumpsit. While the form of the proceeding may be unimportant, yet when the substance of the right or of the remedy is different, it is important that the latter be correctly administered. In the action of assumpsit the question was merely whether a contract existed. In equity more than this must be shown. It must appear as to the purchase price that the contract is just and fair, and one that equitably ought to be enforced. And as to the rents and profits a strong case for equitable interference must be made out. In the assumpsit suit the counterclaim was disallowed because it arose after suit was brought. The suit in equity was not begun until the bill was filed (Clark v. Slayton,
A nonsuit should be entered as to the action in assumpsit. If justice requires the allowance of an amendment by filing a bill in *294 equity, that relief should be granted upon such terms as seem just; and if that is done, the case will then be in order for proceedings on the equity side of the court.
Case discharged.
All concurred.