Lukken v. Hanover Fire Insurance Co.

| Wis. | Jan 10, 1928

Doerfler, J.

It is conceded that the complaint sets forth a good cause of action against the defendant Francisco on the ground of a breach of warranty. The general demurrer, therefore, can only apply to the alleged second cause of action. Although sec. 263.06 of the Statutes specifies the various grounds for a demurrer, among which are the following: (4) That there is a defect of parties plaintiff or defendant; (5) that several causes of action have been improperly united; and (6) that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, the demurring defendants rely solely upon the ground set forth in sub. (6) of sec. 263.06.

Viewing the complaint in the light of the demurrer thus interposed, we are satisfied that the same states a cause of action against the two demurring defendants. Among other things it is alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff on the 20th day of February, 1925, was the owner of the automobile and was in possession of the same; that pursuant to certain representations made by the defendant Daggett, a deputy sheriff of Dane county, she delivered the machine to him; that all of the defendants obtained possession of said machine; and that she demanded of them that the machine be returned and delivered to her, with which demand they failed and refused to comply; and that they wrongfully converted said automobile. Analyzing the allegations in the second cause of action and stating them in their simplest form, we have an allegation of ownership and possession of the plaintiff, a delivery of the machine to the defendants other than Francisco, an allegation of conversion, and a demand for a return, and a refusal. While we do not consider this alleged second cause of action in-the form in which it is pleaded as a model pleading, it is our opinion that under the liberal rules recognized and adopted by the Code, the same sufficiently sets forth a cause of action.

It is argued by counsel for the demurring defendants that the allegation of wrongful conversion is a mere conclusion of law and therefore cannot be deemed as being admitted. The term “wrongful conversion” is one which is well known and understood in the law. It is doubtful whether a more definite statement would materially benefit the parties challenging this pleading. If, however, they have in mind that a more specific or detailed plea' would have afforded them some advantage, the same could readily have been obtained by an order requiring the pleading to be made more definite and certain. It is our view that the complaint cannot be successfully attacked by a general demurrer, and it would appear that both counsel agree with our conclusion, for the arguments contained in the briefs indicate that their main contention is based upon the position that there was an improper joinder of causes of action. We will therefore consider the demurrer from that standpoint, rather than upon the ground of a failure to state a cause of action.

Plaintiff contends that her complaint constitutes a proper pleading under the provisions of sec. 260.11 of the Statutes; that having stated all of the facts affecting the defendants, she is entitled to alternative relief; that if the facts stated in the first cause of action are true, she must then be given judgment against the defendant Francisco, and that if the allegations in the alleged second cause of action are true, she is entitled to judgment against the defendants other than Francisco. Sec. 260.11 reads as follows:

“Who as defendants. Any person may be made a defendant who has or claims an interest in the controversy adverse to the plaintiff, or who is a necessary party to a complete determination or settlement of the questions involved therein. A plaintiff may join as defendants persons against whom the right to relief is alleged to exist in the alternative, although recovery against one may be inconsistent with recovery against the others; and in all such actions the recovery of costs by any of the parties to the action shall be in the discretion of the court.”

Prior to the enactment of sec. 260.11 justice frequently miscarried, and this was realized by the legislature. At that time, where a suitor had a cause of action, but entertained a serious doubt as to who of two persons was liable therefor, it was incumbent upon him to first bring suit against one, and, if unsuccessful, to then sue'the other; and not infrequently he lost out in both actions. The purpose of sec. 260.11 was also to avoid unnecessary litigation and expense and to promote the speedy administration of justice. This was realized not only by the legislature of Wisconsin, but also by many of the law-making bodies of other states, and we therefore find similar statutes in many other states. Some of the statutes of other states are ambiguous and have therefore been repeatedly construed by the courts, and there is a lack of uniformity in the decisions on their construction. This is particularly true of the cases in New York, as will appear from an examination of the digests of cases contained in a note to Ader v. Blau (241 N.Y. 7" court="NY" date_filed="1925-07-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/ader-v-blau-3601793?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3601793">241 N. Y. 7, 148 N. E. 771), reported in 41 A. L. R. 1216. The learned editor of the American Law Reports, after a review of the digested cases contained in the note above referred to, expresses his conclusion as follows:

“The decisions herein reviewed may be roughly summarized by saying that it has been generally, although not invariably, held that persons one or the other of whom it is sought to hold liable cannot, in the absence of statutes changing the practice, be joined as defendants in an action at law unless it is possible to allege that they are jointly liable; that the decisions upon the statutes and rules of practice attempting to alleviate the situation, while confused and inconsistent, show a diminishing hostility to the innovations instituted thereby, and that their tendency is to permit the joining in one action of technically separate causes of action against various defendants where a common transaction or event is the basis of the action.”

The only question involved in the instant case concerns itself with the ownership and right of possession of the Ford automobile. Consequently we are of the opinion that these causes of action can be united in one complaint, and that the pleader is authorized, under the express terms of the statute, to demand alternative relief. To hold otherwise would amount to a deliberate attempt to frustrate a clearly expressed intention of the legislature.

Sec. 260.11 is a recent enactment, and it has been instrumental in causing a radical change in our system of pleading, as is clearly manifested by the note of the editor of the American Law Reports above quoted. Among other things the statute provides:

“Plaintiff may join as defendants persons against whom the right to relief is alleged to exist in the alternative, although recovery against one may be inconsistent with recovery against the other. ...”

This is precisely what was attempted by the plaintiff in her complaint. A recovery against the defendant Francisco would be inconsistent with a recovery against the other defendants, and vice versa. That the element of doubt must exist in all cases where alternative relief is demanded follows as a logical sequence from the very nature of the relief itself. It is therefore proper, in an appropriate pleading involving alternative relief, to freely and fairly express such doubt in the pleading itself. The pleader should also, as we view it, concisely and clearly set forth all of the material facts involved in his cause of action, and the facts so pleaded should form the basis of the alternative relief demanded. Having brought to the fore all of the material facts, and the pleader having alleged the doubts existing in his mind on the subject of who is liable, he should then pray for judgment against such party or parties as the truth, when found, will warrant. Such a pleading need not set forth more than one cause of action.

A construction of sec. 260.11 will be found in the case of De Groot v. Peoples State Bank, 183 Wis. 594, 198 N. W. 614.

The complaint in substance contains all of the requisite allegations required in a suit where alternative relief is demanded, although the form of the complaint cannot be recommended as a precedent. Whether it be due to the liberal rules of pleading sanctioned by the Code, or to the ever-increasing volume of legal business requiring the attention of the members of the bar, or to the increased complexity in the business and industrial world, which absorbs largely the time and efforts of the profession, it must be stated as a deplorable fact that pleading as a science has not progressed, but retrogressed. In the due course of legal proceedings, the pleadings today, as in the days of old, perform an important function. The complaint constitutes the very foundation and groundwork of plaintiff’s cause of action, and in its proper, scientific construction and presentation a good lawyer should be as much interested and take as much pride as the architect who drafts the plans for the foundations of a modern structure. What has been said with reference to the complaint is equally applicable to all other pleadings in a lawsuit. The lawyer who loosely and illogically frames his complaint, with imperfect and indifferent allegations, trusting that the court, in the'exercise of the liberality created by the Code, will sustain him, is not a high-grade lawyer and officer of the court. A good pleading is just as desirable today (and owing to the complexity of our modern business world perhaps more so) as it was in the days when the common-law form of pleading prevailed. The pleading is the work of the lawyer. It passes from him to the other members of the profession, and it is also subjected to the scrutiny of the courts. The standing which a lawyer has in the profession and before the courts depends in a considerable degree upon the pleadings which he drafts. So that, while many a poor pleading may be rescued from destruction by the administration of the Code system, the careful lawyer and the self-respecting lawyer will see to it that so important a document is worthy of his best efforts.

What is here said is not intended as a stricture upon the counsel who drafted the pleading herein attacked. The form of pleadings praying for alternative relief has not been as definitely established as it might be, and this complaint in the form in which it is presented is largely excusable for that reason.

We are constrained to hold in the instant case that the complaint states a cause of action for alternative relief, and with the view thus expressed the order of the lower court must be reversed.

By the Court. — The order of the lower court is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to overrule the demurrer, and for further proceedings according to law,