Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

13 Abb. Pr. 346

Bishop v. Edmiston

New York Supreme Court

Decided October 15, 1861

New York Supreme Court · decided 1861-10-15

Demurrer to a complaint. The plaintiffs in this action were the owners of ond half of the brig Alma; the defendant McLauchlin was the owner of the other half of the vessel. The brig was lost at sea, and the defendants Edmiston were employed by McLauchlin as insurance brokers to collect an insurance of $6000, which had been effected before her loss, The Edmistons collected a considerable portion of this insurance-money, and took notes for the remainder.

Decided 1861-10-15

Leonard, J.

¶1—The owners of the vessel were parties united in interest, within the meaning of section 119 of the Code, and should join in the prosecution of a demand growing out of such ownership.

¶2The pláintiffs not having taken'the requisite steps, under the section above referred to, cannot make one of the part-owners of the vessel a party defendant, and omit to join him as a party plaintiff with themselves.

¶3The excuse stated in the complaint for not uniting HcLauchlin (who was a part-owner) as a party plaintiff, and for making him a defendant with John and James Edmiston, was not sufficient, inasmuch as it will constitute no defence to an action brought in the names of all the part-owners against the said John and James, that they have charged the money collected by them against a demand in their favor against one of the part-owners with his consent. (Evernghim a. Ensworth, 7 Wend., 326.)

¶4HcLauchlin had no interest, in a legal sense, against the other part-owners.

¶5If the Edmistons kept the money on account of their demands against Mm, or if he converted the shares of" the other owners in the money in question, he. would be liable therefor to the other part-owners.

¶6If, by his own act, HcLauchlin diverted the shares of ■ these plaintiffs in the money in question to the payment of his individual debt to Edmistons, he was liable to the plaintiffs to the same extent. There might be an interest in the question adverse to the plaintiffs; but there was no legal interest of an adverse nature that would make it necessary that HcLauchlin should be made a party defendant.

¶7*350Judgment must, therefore, he rendered for the defendants John and James Edmiston on the demurrer, unless the plaintiffs amend their complaint in twenty days (which they have leave to do), and pay the costs of the demurrer.

/13/abbpr/346 · .json · Public domain