Barnard v. Davis

54 Ala. 565
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedDecember 15, 1875
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 54 Ala. 565 (Barnard v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Barnard v. Davis, 54 Ala. 565 (Ala. 1875).

Opinion

STONE, J.'

In Poor v. Carleton, 3 Sumner, 79, Mr. Justice Story lays down a rule for the admission of affidavits on a motion to dissolve an injunction on the denials of the answer, which is rather broader in some of its terms than the current of authorities will warrant. To leave it purely a matter of discretion with the chancellor whether or not he will hear ex parte affidavits in every case tried before him, is to declare no rule at all. The tendency of such practice would be to invite the experiment in every case where the practitioner thought he could strengthen his case by such affidavits. A question so important in practice, and of such frequent presentation, should, if possible, have a solution which will tend to uniformity of administration. Still, we find it difficult to express a rule which will infallibly inform the [572]*572practitioner when he may or may not introduce such affidavits.

In the case of Long & Long v. Brown, 4 Ala. 631-2, this court said: “ On a motion to dissolve an injunction, affidavits cannot be received, either to support or contradict the answer, with the single exception of waste, where the injury would be irreparable.”

That great equity judge, Chancellor Kent, after stating that the general rule is against their admission, and that the instances in which they are admitted are exceptional, adds : “ They have been admitted in cases of waste, and in cases analogous resting on the 'same principle, and where irreparable mischief might ensue; and (he adds) I am aware that partnership cases have been brought within this rule.” Eastburn v. Kirk, 1 Johns. Ch. 445.

The case of Strathmore v. Bowes, 2 Bro. C. C. 88, referred to by Chancellor Kent in the case supra, was one of waste. In a note to that case, it is said that “ upon applications to continue or dissolve injunctions to stay waste, or acts in the nature of waste, though the court does not permit affidavits to be read in support of the plaintiff’s equity, yet, when the waste sworn to is denied, proof of it by affidavit will be admitted. . . . Upon similar principles the court has permitted the reading of affidavits in a case of partnership, though with' great caution, and only when it has clearly appeared that one partner, by acts of extreme misconduct, is bringing the case within the principle of irreparable mischief. But this has' been confined to affidavits in support of the allegations of mismanagement, &c., not in support of the title.”

In the case of Poor v. Carleton, supra, Mr. Justice Story,, speaking of the admissibility of the affidavits offered, says “ that they are admissible I cannot doubt, for they are merely to collateral matters, not touched’by or contradictory to the answers. . -. . Without doubt the defendants are at liberty to repel such affidavits by counter affidavits to the same points, for otherwise they might be compromitted by statements which they would have no opportunity to answer.” It is further said, in the same opinion, that “there is another qualification of the doctrine, in cases of irreparable mischief, and that is, that though the original affidavits may be read as to other facts contradicted by the answer, they cannot be read in support of- the title of the plaintiff, which is contradicted by the answer.” Mr. Story expresses his disapprobation of this last proposition, but we do not concur with him in that.

In High on Injunctions, § 1005, it is said: “ Upon a mo[573]*573tion to dissolve, on the coming in of the answer, complainant will not usually be allowed to file additional affidavits, either in support of his bill, or for the purpose of contradicting the answer.' Some exceptions to the rule are, however, recognized by the authorities, and where the effect of a dissolution would be that the parties would not remain in statu quo upon the final hearing, and when, as in cases of waste, serious and irreparable mischief would ensue from the delay, the strictness of the rule may be relaxed.”

We. hold that where the answer clearly and explicitly denies the plaintiff’s title, the right in him, yjhich is the foundation of the relief he prays, then ex parte affidavits should not be received to contradict or overturn such denials in the answer. With this limitation, affidavits are receivable against the denials and averments of the answer, in cases of waste, of nuisance, of infringement of patent rights, and in cases to dissolve and settle partnerships and other joint adventures, where extreme mismanagement is charged against the defendant partner or joint adventurer. Under the general designation, waste, we include all analagous cases resting on like principle. And, we may add, in all cases where, under these rules, the complainant, is entitled to introduce affidavits, the defendant may introduce counter affidavits. We do not declare these rules as controlling absolutely all cases that may arise, but as declaration of principles for the solution of questions that1 may be presented. They somewhat enlarge the rule declared in the dictum found in Long v. Brown, supra.

Under the rules above declared, the case made by the pleadings in this cause is not one of irreparable mischief, or one in which affidavits contradictory of the answer should have been received.

When an injunction obtained under section 3428 of the Bevised Code is dissolved, the complainant is required to give a refunding bond under section 3437 Bevised Code. The mischief resulting from such dissolution cannot be irreparable, and therefore affidavits should not be allowed on motions to dissolve injunctions obtained under that section.

The present amended bill and injunction do not fall within the provisions of sections 3428 and 3437 of the Bevised Code. Those sections are intended and framed to meet the wants of defendants in judgments, who seek to relieve themselves from the payment thereof by force of some defense of equitable cognizance. Success in such a suit, is a discharge of the supposed debt or recovery evidenced by the judgment. Hence, a refunding bond, “ conditioned to refund the money and interest, he (the plaintiff,) may collect on the judgment, [574]*574if tbe same is on tbe final hearing of tbe bill perpetually enjoined,” would, in sucb case, be apt and ample security.

In tbis case, sucb bond would be no proper security. A perpetual injunction in this cause will not relieve tbe defendants in tbe judgment from paying it, nor give them any right to recover it back. It will only settle that Barnard and not Davis is entitled to tbe money.

In Rembert & Hale v. Brown, 17 Ala. 671, tbis court said: “ An injunction will not always be dissolved, even if tbe answer deny tbe equity of tbe bill, if tbe court can see good reason in tbe facts disclosed why tbe injunction should be retained. If tbe answer b.e evasive or uncertain, or if tbe case made by the answer does not clearly show that tbe complainant is not entitled to relief, tbe injunction should be retained until tbe final bearing.” The same principle bad been asserted in Poor v. Carleton, supra.

In Roberts v. Anderson, 2 Johns. Ch. 204, a judgment bad been recovered in an action of ejectment.

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Bluebook (online)
54 Ala. 565, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/barnard-v-davis-ala-1875.