Crowson v. Cody

110 So. 46, 215 Ala. 150, 1926 Ala. LEXIS 375
Supreme Court of Alabama·Decided April 8, 1926·No. 3 Div. 730.·Published·Cited by 38 cases

Opinion

THOMAS, J.

Phases of the controversy arising out of the subject-matter of this suit are Allison v. Cody, 206 Ala. 88, 89 So. 238; same case, 209 Ala. 124, 95 So. 286; Crowson v. Cody, 207 Ala. 476, 93 So. 420; same case, 209 Ala. 674, 96 So. 875, Id., 211 Ala. 559, 100 So. 821. See, also, Hamilton v. Cody, 206 Ala. 102, 89 So. 240.

The recognized distinction between a mortgage and a pledge was made in Crowson v. Cody, 209 Ala. 674, 96 So. 875; same case, 207 Ala. 476, 93 So. 420, and noted in the opinion and the authorities collected in Oden v. Vaughn, 204 Ala. 445, 85 So. 779.

The rulés for accounting are considered in Crowson v. Cody, 209 Ala. 674, 677, 96 So. 875; same case, 207 Ala. 476, 93 So. 420; Grand Bay Land Co. v. Simpson, 205 Ala. 347, 87 So. 186; same case, 207 Ala. 303, 92 So. 789; and in Julian v. Woolbert, 202 Ala. 530, 81 So. 32; Hamilton v. Fur. & Loan Co., 206 Ala. 622, 91 So. 489; Tolleson v. Henson, 207 Ala. 529, 93 So. 458 ; Indian Ref. Co. v. Van Valkenburg, 208 Ala. 62, 93 So. 895; Mabry v. Ray, 208 Ala. 615, 95 So. 6; Henry v. Ide, 209 Ala. 367, 96 So. 698; Erswell v. Ford, 211 Ala. 242, 100 So. 98. And the necessity of averment in a court, of equity to open an account stated was adverted in Crowson v. Cody, 209 Ala. 674, 677, 96 So. 875; Scheuer v. Berringer, 102 Ala. 216, 14 So. 640; Kilpatrick v. Henson, 81 Ala. 464, 1 So. 188; Paulling v. Creagh, 54 Ala. 646; Langdon v. Roane’s Adm’r, 6 Ala. 518, 41 Am. Dec. 60; 1 C. J. p. 716, § 358.

The appeal is from a decree sustaining demurrer to the bill, and there were many grounds assigned. The court below did not designate the grounds of demurrer sustained. Where there are several grounds of demurrer, some of which are sufficient, and the judgment or decree sustaining demurrer is general, the ruling will be referred to a ground that is well taken. Nat. Park Bk. v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 199 Ala. 192, 196, 74 So. 69; Hull v. Wimberly & Thomas Hdw. Co., 178 Ala. 538, 59 So. 568; Tatum v. Tatum, 111 Ala. 209, 20 So. 341; Old Dominion Copper Min. Co. v. Bigelow, 188 Mass. 315, 74 N. E. 653, 108 Am. St. Rep. 479 ; Hart v. Hart, 39 Miss. 221, 77 Am. Dec. 668; 10 R. C. L. p. 467, § 239; Steiner v. Parker & Co., 108 Ala. 357, 19 So. 386.

*152 In Richard v. Steiner Bros., 152 Ala. 303, 304, 44 So. 562, 563, it is said: '

“The rule of practice as declared by our decisions is that, on an appeal from a decree sustaining or overruling a demurrer to a bill in equity, the decree will be referred to the causes of demurrer which will support it, and not to those which would render it erroneous, working a reversal. McDonald v. Pearson, 114 Ala. 630, 641, 21 So. 534.”

See, also, Kinney v. Reeves, 139 Ala. 386, 36 So. 22; Perris v. Hoglan, 121 Ala. 240, 25 So. 834; Harper v. Raisin Fert. Co., 158 Ala. 329, 48 So. 589, 132 Am. St. Rep. 32; Sims’ Ch. Pr. § 445.

The foregoing rule was followed in Nat. Park Bk. v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 199 Ala. 192, 74 So. 69; B. R. L. & P. Co. v. Barranco, 203 Ala. 639, 84 So. 839; Jones v. Jefferson County, 206 Ala. 13, 89 So. 174; Crowson v. Cody, 209 Ala. 674, 676, 96 So. 875. It need not be observed that the decree on demurrer to a bill will be confined to the grounds assigned. Whiteman v. Taber, 203 Ala. 496, 500, 83 So. 595. In the respects indicated, the foregoing authorities are at variance with the application made of the rule in Graves v. Brittingham, 209 Ala. 147, 95 So. 542, is the opinion of the writer only.

The many questions are presented by the demurrers to the bill as á whole and to each of said portions and phases thereof; among other grounds, that of res judicata, concluding as follows:

“At most the only equity in the bill is for an accounting, but it cannot be maintained so long as it is incumbered by the inapt allegations therein as to other matters and relief, as pointed out in Crowson v. Cody, 209 Ala. 674 [96 So. 875].”

To the bill as amended respondent refiles each and every ground theretofore filed and assigned “as fully in all respects as if the same were here set out in extenso,” and — ■

“(3) It appears that the matters set forth in said amendment are included in and covered by the matters already litigated in the former case of J. C. Crowson v. Michael Cody et al., referred to in the original bill filed in this case.

“(4) The allegations of said amendment are not such as would justify the court in requiring any discovery or disclosure on the part of the defendant.”

The. dismissal of a bill after demurrer sustained and for the failure to amend within the reasonable time given by the court for that purpose performs the effect of a final decree on the merits, and is the foundation for demurrer or a plea of res judicata. Code 1923, vol. 4, p. 916, rule 28; East v. Saks, 214 Ala. 58, 106 So. 185; Boon v. Riley, 171 Ala. 657, 54 So. 997. The effect of this circuit court rule No. 28 has been the subject of consideration. Burgess v. Am. Mortg. Co., 119 Ala. 669, 24 So. 727; Warrior, etc., Co. v. Ala. Land Co., 154 Ala. 135, 45 So. 53; Kelly v. Griffin, 165 Ala. 309, 51 So. 789; Strang v. Moog, 72 Ala. 460; Herstein v. Walker, 90 Ala. 478, 7 So. 821.

In Stein v. McGrath, 128 Ala. 175, 180, 30 So. 792, 794, where the decree dismissed the bill after failure to amend to meet ruling on demurrer, it was declared that, since the demurrer was a confession of the facts averred, and had been directed to the equities of the bill, based on the averred facts, the decree “was tantamount to a decree on the merits upon a final submission.”

The rule on sustaining demurrer is understood as not precluding a proper and timely attempt to restate the cause of action. 13 A. L. R. 1104. Such was the treatment of Hie pleading sought to be defeated by the estoppel set up in Gilmer v. Morris (C. C.) 30 E. 476. However, the rule in this jurisdiction is that, where the pleading was heard on demurrei', and it is ordered that the same be dismissed, unless amended within a given and reasonable time, so as to make the pleading good and sufficient in law, the judgment containing such declaration of insufficiency and allowance of time is not final upon the merits, and the whole pleading is within such time open to due amendment, and a subsequent'demurrer challenging that right in the same case will be overruled, if the pleading as a whole sets forth a good cause of action.

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Crowson v. Cody, 110 So. 46, 215 Ala. 150, 1926 Ala. LEXIS 375 (Ala. 1926).

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