Morrisette v. Wood

128 Ala. 505

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1900
• Status: Published

Opinion

DOWDELL, J.

1. Section 3290 of the Code provides 'that at any time previous to the trial, upon notice to the attorney of the party, the defendant may have inspection of the bond or other instrument sued on; “or when an account is the foundation of the suit, a list of the items composing it.”

The word account has no clearly defined legal ¿leaning. Ordinarily it is a detailed statement of mutual demands (if they exist) in the nature of debit and credit between the parties, arising out of contract or some fidiciary relation, showing a balance by comparison between receipts and payments, but the balance is not itself an account; or, an account may be a statement of debits by one person to another without credits, especially when there are no mutual demands. — 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law (2d ed.) 484. The term account, includes goods sold and delivered, or consigned to be sold, money had and received, and work done and materials furnished.’’ — 3 Ency. Pl. & Pr., 525.

2. The office of a bill of particulars is to amplify the pleading and more minutely specify the. -claim or defense set up, and to prevent surprise on the trial, by furnishing such information as a reasonable man would require respecting the mutters -against, which he is called to defend. — 3 Ency. Pl. & Pr., 519, and authorities cited, and cases referred to in note to section 3290 of Code. It is immaterial what the-character of the action may be, whether- for goods and merchandise sold and -delivered, for money had and received, for work and labor done -or materials furnished and the like, if an account is the. foundation of the suit, the defendant is entitled to a list, of the items composing it. — Doss v. Peterson, 82 Ala. 253.

3. The nature of the demand of a physician for medical services rendered, without a special contract therefor, is simply an implied promise to pay what such services are reasonably worth, -and the proper action for their recovery is assumpsit, — for such compensation as may he shown by evidence, that the physician rendering the services ought to receive. This demand, in the absence of a special -contract as to what shall be paid, is as open account. In an -action for its recovery, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that an account is not the foundation of the suit. Such a demand is subject to the bar of the statute of limitations of three years as provided by the statute against open or unliquidated accounts. — Gale v. Johnson, 72 Ala. 256; Hood v. League, 102 Ala. 228. This defense of the bar provided by the statute can he. made because the basis -or foundation of the claim is an account which has not been stated. We can draw no distinction between the word account as used in the -statute -of limitations of three years (Code, § 2799), and a-s employed in the section as to a bill of particulars. It means the same in both sections. That this i-s its true meaning, is further strengthened by the -ordinary and generally -accepted meaning of the word. One understands the word bill or account, according to ordinary commercial usage, to mean claim or demand growing out of the sale of goods, the performance or services and the like. The contention'of plaintiff, therefore, that the ’counts of the complaint upon which recovery is sought, — the one for medical services rendered defendant’s testator during his last illness, and the other, for work and labor done by the plaintiff for defendant’s testator, at his request during the year 1895, — are not ■claim’s or demands the foundation of .which is an account, is untenable.

4. We have stated what the office of a bill of particulars under the ’statute is, — to amplify the pleadings, and to prevent surprise of the defendant, by furnishing him with a statement of matters against which he is called to defend. The bill when furnished, limits the generality of the pleading, and its effect is, and should be, to limit the proof to the particulars specified therein. — 3 Ency. Pl. & Pr., 519.

In Florida, they have a statute which requires, that “all bonds, bills of exchange, ‘covenants and accounts, upon which suit may be brought, or a copy thereof, shall he filed with the declaration.” The only difference in substance between their statute and ours as to an account is, that there, the. bill is required to be filed with the declaration, and ours, that it must be furnished before the trial, upon the demand of the defendant. In construction of their statute, the Florida court hold that the plaintiff will not be permitted to recover under the common count on any cause of action not included in the bill of particulars filed with the declaration, and where lie files a bill of particulars, he will not be allowed in the proof to go beyond them. — Columbia County v. Branch, 31 Fla. 62; Robinson v. Dift, 17 Ib. 457; Waterman v. Maltair, 5 Ib. 211. To the same effect is Starkweather v. Kittle, 17 Wend. 20; Brown v. Calvert, 4 Dana (Ky.) 219. In the last ease cited, the court said: “Whenever the form of the declaration is so general, as not to apprise the defendant of the nature, character and extent of the claim set up against him, lie may demand a bill of particulars. Such a bill is noit only proper, by way of limiting the plaintiff in his proof to the specific demands claimed by him, but is essential to enable the plaintiff to prepare for his defense, and to guard him against surprise. The right is not only sanctioned by authority, but by reason and propriety.”

The proofs should have been limited ito the bill of particulars as to the services rendered and the value of the particular items of service when shown. The court therefore erred in the admission of evidence, in not limiting the proof to the plaintiff’s bill of particulars, and in that- part of its oral charge, to the jury excepted to by the defendant.

Reversed and remanded.