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36 Wis. 631

Strunk v. Smith

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Decided January 15, 1875

Wisconsin Supreme Court · decided 1875-01-15

This appeal was from an order overruling a demurrer to the complaint. The complaint and demurrer are as follows : “The above named plaintiff says that this action is founded upon a written instrument for the payment of money only, to wit: a promissory note, of which the following is a copy:. “‘$2,702.33.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently November 1894

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1875-01-15

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Lyon, J.

¶1This complaint will shock the professional sensibilities of any lawyer who is reasonably familiar with common law rules of pleading; and, knowing, as we do the ability and accuracy of the attorneys whose names are signed to it, it is a matter of some surprise to us that they could have brought themselves to put in a pleading so barren of averment, that, were those rules to govern, it could not stand a moment before a demurrer.

¶2But we may not indulge in much criticism of this complaint, for we find ourselves compelled to hold it sufficient under our code of procedure, which provides as follows : “ In an action or defense founded upon an instrument for the payment of money only, it shall be sufficient for the party to give a copy of the instrument, and to state that there is due to him thereon, from the adverse party, a specified sum which he claims.” R. S., ch. 125, sec. 24 (Tay. Stats., 1443, § 26). This action is founded upon an instrument for the payment of money only; in his complaint the plaintiff has given a copy of such instrument, and states that there is due to him thereon, from the defendants, a specified sum, which he claims and for which he demands judgment. The law says that this is sufficient. We are not at liberty to hold that it is not. See Veeder v. The Town of Lima, 11 Wis., 419; Reeve v. Fraker, 32 id., 243. As to the second ground of demurrer, see Giffert v. West, 33 Wis., 617, and cases cited.

¶3*636Whether averments of “ demand of payment, protest and notice thereof,” would have been necessary had not the defendants expressly waived the same, we are not called upon to determine. It is scarcely necessary to add that we do not understand from the complaint that the defendants indorsed the note “without recourse,” but that those words on the note relate solely to the indorsement of Daniel Clow.

¶4By the Court. — Order affirmed.

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