Carley v. Vance

17 Mass. 388
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court·Decided October 15, 1821·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

Wilde, J.

The objection taken in this case to the declaration, for the want of an allegation of a demand, at the time and place appointed for payment, cannot, we think, be maintained. It is difficult to reconcile all the cases; but the weight of au [315] thority is opposed to the objection, and it has no foundation in principle.

It was for the first time determined, in the case of Callaghan vs. Aylett, 2 Camp. 549, that in an action against the maker of a promissory note, or the acceptor of a bill of exchange, payable at a place certain, it is necessary for the plaintiff to aver a demand at the place; such demand being a condition precedent to his right of action. This was denied to be law by the Court of King’s Bench, in the case of Fenton vs. Goundry, 13 Fast, 459. But the * Court of Common Pleas, in the case of Gam- [ * 391 ] mon vs. Schmoll, 5 Taunt. 344, adhered to the doctrine laid down in the case of Callaghan vs. Aylett; and afterwards the Court of King’s Bench, in the case of Sanderson vs. Bowes & Al., 14 East, 500, adopted the same doctrine, so far as it relates to promissory notes. They do not overrule the case of Fenton vs. Goundry; and there is a material distinction between that case and the one of Sanderson vs. Bowes & Al., although it seems to have been overlooked by the Court. In the former case, the bill was payable at a time and place certain; in the latter the note was payable on demand. And the reason given by the Court, why a de mand in such a case is necessary, is, that it is required by the express terms of the contract. The like reason is given in the case of Birks vs. Trippet, 1 Saund. 33. Lord Ellenborough admits, that where money is to be paid, or something to be done, at a particular time, as well as place, the defendant ought to be held to show, by way of defence, that he was ready at the time and place to pay. 14 East, 504. We think the law is clearly so, notwithstanding the decision in the case of Gammon vs. Schmoll, in which this point does not appear to have been considered.

In an action for the non-payment of money upon an award, which directs the money to be paid at a certain time and place, it is sufficient for the plaintiff to allege generally that the money has not been paid. 13 East, 473. But if the money in such case be made payable upon request, an actual request should be made; and being a condition precedent to the right of action, it must be laid in the declaration. Birks vs. Trippet. So if rent be payable on the land at a certain day, no demand is required; nor can it be necessary, in any case, where the promise is to pay money at a certain time and place; for a demand is not required by the terms of the contract. If a demand, at the time and place appointed for payment were indispensable, there would be no remedy in case of non-payment, if a demand were omitted even by accident. And yet * there is no color for saying that such [ * 392 omission would discharge the maker of a promissory note [316] from his liability; for a tender and refusal would not bar the debt, but only the damages. 13 East, 473, Bac. Abr. Tender, &c., F. In respect to an endorser, it would be otherwise; for to charge him, a demand on the maker is in every case necessary. But in an action against the maker of a promissory note, or the acceptor of a bill of exchange, payable at a certain time and place, no good reason can be given for requiring the plaintiff to aver a demand.

If the defendant was ready with his money, at the time and place stipulated, he may plead it as matter of defence. This the defendant has done in the present case ; and he would be entitled to judgment, if he had pleaded with a profert in curia. This omission in the plea we think fatal.

It was indeed formerly holden that, if a contract be to pay money at a place certain, it is not necessary, in pleading a tender, to bring the money into Court; because it is said, the party is not to pay the money at any other place. But the better opinion seems to be, that a plea of tender, in such a case, without a profert, is insufficient. Bac. Abr. ubi supra.—Bro. Tout. Temps, prist, pi. 43.—2 Roll. Abr. 524.

Lawes, in his treatise on pleading in assumpsit, p. 627, says that it is not quite clear, that a profert is necessary in the action of assumpsit. But we can perceive no ground, in authority or reason, for such a doubt. The rule is general, that if a debt or duty be not discharged by a tender and refusal, the tender must be pleaded with a profert in curia.—Bac. Abr. ubi supra, Bro. Tout. Temps, prist, pi. 15, 25, 31, 41, 43.—2 Roll. Abr. 524. The practice has always been, to plead a tender with a profert, in assumpsit as well as in debt; and it ought not to be departed from.

The case of Robbins vs. Luce, cited by the defendant’s counsel, was an action upon a promissory note, payable in barrels ; [ * 393 ] and it came within the exception to the general * rule, that when the thing tendered is so bulky or heavy, that it cannot be conveniently brought into Court, no profert is required.

For these reasons we are of opinion, that the plea in bar, being equivalent to a plea of tender, and not being pleaded with a profert in curia, is bad ; and judgment must be entered accord ingly.

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Carley v. Vance, 17 Mass. 388 (Mass. 1821).

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