121 A.2d 264 | D.C. | 1956
This appeal -is from an order dismissing a complaint for not being sufficiently specific and for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
From the complaint, four pages in length, and its, ten exhibits, it appears that appellant was indebted to- Esso Standard Oil Company and Esso placed the delinquent
The attorney in his representative capacity cashed the larger check and returned the smaller one to appellant. Appellant then brought this action against the attorney for $942.15, alleged to have been “illegally collected,” for $500 for loss of “Good Will” and “Prestige,” and for $1,000 exemplary damages.
Appellant’s grievance seems to be that he was not allowed to fix and pay the fee of Esso’s attorney, for he says in his brief that his purpose in sending the two checks was to see that Esso was paid the full amount it claimed and that in addition the attorney receive a “reasonable” fee. At the hearing before the trial court appellant stated he desired to pay the attorney’s' fee because he did not want Esso “to be mad with me.”
We think the complaint was properly dismissed. It was in complete violation of the trial court’s Civil Rule 8 which requires that a complaint contain a “short and plain statement of the claim” and that each averment of a pleading be “simple, concise, and direct.” Failure to comply with that rule is ground for dismissal. Avin v. Verta, D.C.Mun.App., 106 A.2d 145. Viewed in its most favorable light the complaint is á confusing recital of evidentiary matter, making uncertain whether appellant’s claim, if he has one, sounds in tort or contract. As we said in Avin v. Verta, supra, one who has a legal grievance should state it clearly, simply and directly, and failure to do so warrants a dismissal.
Affirmed.