Bates v. Capital State Bank

110 P. 277, 18 Idaho 429, 1910 Ida. LEXIS 51
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 28, 1910
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 110 P. 277 (Bates v. Capital State Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bates v. Capital State Bank, 110 P. 277, 18 Idaho 429, 1910 Ida. LEXIS 51 (Idaho 1910).

Opinions

SULLIVAN, C. J.

This action was brought to recover the possession of twenty-one first mortgage bonds of the Pacific and Idaho Northern Railway Co., or their alleged value of $29,496.25.

It is alleged in the complaint that said bonds were deposited with the Capital State Bank of Idaho on the 23d of August, [433]*4331901; that each and every of said bonds were at tbe time of the deposit and ever since have been and now are the sole and separate property of the plaintiff; that on the 3d of January, 1910, plaintiff served a written demand on the defendants, the defendant M. P. Meholin being the receiver of said bank, whereby she demanded immediate delivery to her of said bonds, or in the event of the inability of the defendants to deliver the same, the value thereof, alleged tó be the sum of $29,496.25. It is also alleged that said demand is the first and only demand made by plaintiff for the return of said bonds or the value thereof or any portion of the same; that after making said demand, the said bank and the said receiver neglected, failed and refused to return said bonds or any of them to the plaintiff or their value or any portion of the same, and on information and belief, it is alleged that said bonds and each of them or the value thereof have remained on deposit with said defendant bank and in the custody thereof, and ever since they were deposited in said bank and now are in the custody of said Meholin as receiver. The prayer is for judgment against the defendants for the return of said bonds, and if return cannot be made, for judgment for their value with accruing interest and the costs of action and for other relief.

To this complaint the defendants interposed a demurrer, on the ground that it does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action; that the action is barred by the provisions' of secs. 4052, 4053 and 4054 of the Rev. Codes, and other grounds.

Said demurrer was sustained by the court, and thereupon plaintiff elected to stand upon the complaint and judgment of dismissal was entered against her. This appeal is from said judgment.

There are several specifications of error assigned. There are, however, but two questions involved in this controversy; First, does the complaint state a cause of action, and, second, is the action barred by the statute of limitations %

[434]*434First, it is contended by counsel for respondent that this is an action in replevin, and comes under the provisions of our statute in regard to the claim and delivery of personal property, and it is contended that the complaint does not state a cause of action, because it nowhere is alleged therein that the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of said bonds.

This is clearly an action for the recovery of possession of personal property, to wit, said bonds, and is in form the common-law action of replevin, or an action in “claim and delivery” as designated by the provisions of our statute, secs. 4271 to 4282, inclusively, of the Rev. Codes. As to whether or not the plaintiff has availed herself of the provisional remedy provided by the statute does not appear by the record, but that fact is immaterial in the consideration of the questions presented on this appeal. Whatever name or designation might be given to this specific action, it still remains a fact that the action was instituted primarily for the recovery of the specific personal property described in the complaint, or its value, and the sufficiency- of the pleading must be determined upon the facts pleaded rather than upon any name given to the pleading or the cause of action.

In Rauh v. Oliver, 10 Ida. 3, 70 Pac. 20, this court held under the provisions of our Code of Civil Procedure that the technicalities of pleading under the common law have been dispensed with, and that the plaintiff need only state his cause of action in ordinary and concise language, whether it be in assumpsit, trespass or ejectment, without regard to the ancient forms of pleading, and that the plaintiff can be sent out of court only when, upon his facts, he is entitled to no relief either at law or in equity.

In Elliott v. Collins, 6 Ida. 266, 55 Pac. 301, the court said: “Under the provisions of subd. 2, sec. 4168, in actions ex contractu or ex delicto, the pleader is required to make in his complaint a statement of the facts constituting the cause of action in ordinary and concise language.” (See, also, see. 4168, Rev. Codes.)

[435]*435Implications of law arising from tbe facts stated need not be pleaded and presumptions of law need not be averred. Under our code procedure, where all of the facts are alleged from which the law will imply a promise, it is not necessary to allege a promise in terms, as such allegation would be a mere conclusion of law. (Wilkins v. Stidger, 22 Cal. 231; Boston Clothing Co. v. Garland, 90 Minn. 520, 97 N. W. 433; Voight v. Brooks, 19 Mont. 374, 48 Pac. 549; Waite v. Willis, 42 Or. 288, 70 Pac. 1034; Abadie v. Carrillo, 32 Cal. 172; De La Guerra v. Newhall, 55 Cal. 21.) One of the implications of law which arises from the facts alleged is that the plaintiff is entitled to the immediate possession of said bonds, and that implication need not be averred in terms.

In the complaint it is alleged that the bonds referred to were deposited with the' Capital State Bank as a bank and banker; that they were the property of the plaintiff and she had made demand on said bank and its receiver therefor. The plaintiff stated a cause of action in her complaint, as under the law a bailee who receives property as a deposit is bound to deliver it to the bailor upon demand, unless he has a lien on it, or is prevented from so doing by the real owner or the act of law, and has given the notice required by statute. (Wetherly v. Straus, 93 Cal. 283, 28 Pac. 1045.)

In an action against a depositary, the burden is on the depositor to prove the bailment and a failure or refusal to return the property on demand. If a failure or refusal to return the property on demand is shown, it becomes incumbent upon the depositary to return the same, or show satisfactory explanatory circumstances or facts in defense. (Dart v. Lowe, 5 Ind. 131; Jackson v. Eiglimie, 27 N. y. State Weekly Digest, 193; Darling v. Younker, 37 Ohio St. 487, 41 Am. Rep. 532; 13 Cyc. 810.)

It was held in Wiser v. Chesley, 53 Mo. 547, that a depositor makes a prima facie case when he shows a deposit made and a demand and refusal of the thing deposited. The onus is then upon the depositary to exonerate himself from the liability which attached when he assumed custody of the article [436]*436with .which he was intrusted. (See, also, Davis v. Tribune Job Printing Co., 70 Minn. 95, 72 N. W. 808.)

It is alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff “deposited” with the defendant, the Capital State Bank of Idaho, certain bonds. Thus a “deposit” is alleged to have been made with a bank or banker. In Jones on Bailment, sec. 36, “deposit” is defined to be “A naked bailment of goods to be kept for the bailor without reward and to be returned upon demand. ’ ’ In Edwards on Bailments, 2d ed., sec. 10, p. 14, “deposit” is defined as follows: “A delivery of goods to be kept and returned without recompense creates a bailment; it is called a deposit.” 13 Ency. of Law & Procedure, p.

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Bluebook (online)
110 P. 277, 18 Idaho 429, 1910 Ida. LEXIS 51, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bates-v-capital-state-bank-idaho-1910.