West v. Evans

1 Del. Ch. 122

• Court: Court of Chancery of Delaware
• Decided: July 15, 1820
• Status: Published

Opinion

Eidgely, Chancellor.

The question is whether, as W est and wife and the representatives of Mary Turner, have joined in a bill against the administratrix of Eli Evans, and as West and wife alone have brought a suit at law, these joint parties shall be compelled to elect to proceed either in equity or at law, one of them only having sued at law. I am of opinion, that they both should elect to proceed on this bill, or to take their remedy at law. I think, that as both necessarily must be parties in the bill, they both must proceed in equity, or not at all. They must somehow be parties in equity, and if one withdraws the other cannot proceed alone. Two residuary legatees must both join. If one will not do so she ought to be made a defendant, so as to bind her by the proceeding. There should not be two suits by different residuary legatees. All must be parties; and if one will not prosecute a bill, he may be made a defendant.

The order of the Chancellor, together with the election of the complainants under it, was then entered, as follows:

“ And now,to wit, 26th July, 1820, this case coming on, “ and it appearing that Lemuel West and Caty his wife, “ are prosecuting a suit at law, upon the guardian bond of “ Eli Evans to said Caty; and the said Lemuel West and “ Caty his wife, being put to their election, whether they “ will proceed here in this suit, or at law, on said bond, “ touching the matters of Eli Evans’ guardianship of the “ said Caty ; they, the said Lemuel and Oaty do elect to “ proceed at law on said guardian bond. And further the “ said Jabez Turner, administrator of Mary Turner, late “ Mary Alee, doth elect to proceed at law on the guardian “ bond of the said Eli Evans to the said Mary, mentioned “ in the bill and answer in this suit. And it is ordered by “ the Chancellor, that the said complainants pay to the “ defendant her costs, or such part of her costs, of this suit, “ as have accrued in relation to the matters of the said “ guardianship, and that the bill be dismissed touching “ such matters.”