Rehfuss v. Gross

108 Pa. 521, 1885 Pa. LEXIS 349

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: February 23, 1885
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Clare:

delivered the opinion of the court, February 23d, 1885.

The several Acts of Assembly authorizing amendments have always been allowed a liberal ’construction, in order that, untrammeled by mere form, trial may be had upon the merits and justice of the case. The first section of the Act 12th April, 1858, substantially provides that the previous Act of 4th May, 1852, shall be so construed as to authorize the courts, where by mistake too many persons have been included as plaintiffs or defendants, and in consequence thereof a trial upon the merits cannot be had, to permit an amendment, by striking off such as have been thus improperly joined.

The grant of the power to amend implies the duty to exercise it in a proper case. What is a proper case is always a question addressed to the conscience of the court under the special facts presented, but, as a general rule the names of parties whether plaintiffs or defendants, may be stricken out or added whenever it is necessary to a trial on the merits: Ranger v. Hummel, 1 Wright, 133. An amendment is not always a matter of absolute right, it will not be allowed with a new to give the party in default any unfair advantage; the purpose of the law is, that the cause may be “ tried on the merits.”

In this case suit was brought before a magistrate by U. & W. Rehfuss, who were butchers, against Adolph Gross and Mary E. Gross, wife of Adolph, upon an account of $89, for beef which it was alleged the defendants at various dates had purchased from the plaintiffs. Judgment was obtained on the 7th October, 1882, and on 5'th February, 1883, upon proper application and proof, an appeal by Mary E. Gross, alone, was directed to be entered in the Common Pleas nunc pro tunc. The suit as originally brought before the magistrate, was not in form nor in fact for necessaries for the support and maintenance of the family; that is not pretended, indeed it is now conceded on the argument of the rule to amend that the debt sued for was not thus contracted. It is true that when the plaintiffs were driven into a corner, the case assumed this aspect in the pleadings, but in that form the case was admittedly not sustainable.

After the appeal was entered, on the 12th April, 1883, a rule was entered for leave to amend by striking out the name of Mary E. Gross. Affidavits were filed and the court discharged the rule. Adolph Gross did not deny the debt; he did not appeal, nor was the appeal .entered by his wife taken in his behalf. Mary E. Gross the wife was entitled to an appeal in her own right, to have determined the question as to her liability to the plaintiffs. In proceedings upon such an appeal the husband’s name was necessarily brought upon the record, but the wife was the substantial party; the case as to him had been adjudicated. If therefore the plaintiffs’ motion had prevailed, it would seem to us that they would have stricken off the only defendant upon the record, as the husband’s name, under such circumstances, must necessarily go off the record with hers. The only effect of such an anomaly would be to deprive defendant of her costs.

But if this were not so, why should they desire, by striking off the name of the wife, to proceed further against the husband? They already have judgment against him on the docket of the magistrate. They might wish perhaps to fasten upon him responsibility for the costs which have accrued upon the appeal, but that would be most unfair and unjust. An amendment to enable tbe plaintiffs to consummate sucb a purpose would not be allowed. We cannot see how tbe proposed amendment could, in any way, secure a trial on tbe merits. And tbis is tbe purpose of tbe law in allowing amendments to be made.

Tbe court below was certainly right in refusing tbis amendment, and tbe judgment is affirmed.