Diamond Bank v. Van Meter

113 P. 97, 19 Idaho 225, 1911 Ida. LEXIS 7

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: January 24, 1911
• Status: Published

Opinion

STEWART, C. J.

This is an action to foreclose a mortgage upon certain real estate located in Twin Falls county,, this state.

The case was tried to the court, and judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff, foreclosing said mortgage. This appeal is from the judgment.

The only question presented on this appeal is the demurrer-to the complaint. The complaint contains the following allegations : ‘ ‘ The Diamond Bank is, and was at all times herein mentioned, a corporation organized and existing under and' by virtue of the laws of the state of Missouri and engaged. in a general banking business in said state of Missouri and not elsewhere, with its principal place of business at the town of Diamond in said state; that all the transaction and business hereinafter set forth were had and done in said place of business, to wit, at the town of Diamond in the state of Missouri; that the said plaintiff is not now, nor has it heretofore been, nor has it any purpose or intention of engaging in or doing its corporate business in the state of Idaho, but is in said state for the sole and only purpose of bringing and maintaining this action.”

To this complaint the appellant demurs upon the ground, first, that the plaintiff has no legal capacity to sue or to bring or maintain an action, for the reason that it appears from said complaint that the plaintiff is a foreign corporation, and it does not appear that it has complied with the laws of the state of Idaho relating to foreign corporations entitling it to do business in the state of Idaho or to bring or defend actions.

In support of the demurrer it is the contention of the appellant that the allegations of the complaint show that the respondent, a foreign corporation, has failed to comply with the provisions of see. 10, art. 11 of the constitution of this state, and see. 2792 of. the Rev. Codes. It is alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff is a foreign corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Missouri, and engaged in the banking business in said state and not elsewhere; that its principal place of business is at the town of Diamond in said state, and that all the transactions and business alleged in the complaint, to wit, the purchasing and assignment of the note and mortgage sought to be foreclosed, were transacted at the town of Diamond in the state of Missouri; that the plaintiff has not been engaged in any business in the state of Idaho, and has no intention of so engaging or doing business, but comes into the state for the sole and only purpose of maintaining this action.

These allegations of the complaint clearly do not bring the plaintiff within the provisions of either sec. 10, art. 11 of the constitution, or sec. 2792 of the Rev. Codes. A foreign corporation bringing a suit upon a debt acquired by such corporation in a foreign state, and which has been and is in no way engaged in any business in the state, and which seeks only to enforce the right of action acquired by it in a foreign state, is not doing business within the meaning of either the constitution or the statute. (Foore v. Simon Piano Co., 18 Ida. 167, 108 Pae. 1038; Bonham Nat. Bank v. Grimes Pass Placer Mining Co., 18 Ida. 629, 111 Pac. 1078.)

Judgment is affirmed. Costs awarded to the respondent.

Ailshie and Sullivan, JJ., concur.