Powell v. Ross (1854) · DecisionDepot

Powell v. Ross

Name: California Superior Court Tentative Rulings
Creator: DecisionDepot
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

California Supreme Court Apr 15, 1854Published

Before: Heydeneeldt, Murray

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Holding. An attorney in fact is not a necessary party to represent a principal's interest, and a defendant cannot assign as error the non-joinder of a party they previously forced the plaintiff to omit. Furthermore, objections regarding the nature of securities as promissory notes are waived if not raised by demurrer, especially when the answer admits consideration.

Issues

Whether an attorney in fact is a necessary party to represent the interest of a principal.
Whether a defendant can assign as error the non-joinder of a party they previously moved to exclude.
Whether an objection to the nature of securities as promissory notes is waived if not raised by demurrer.

Disposition. Affirmed

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“One who is described in an instrument, whether parol or special, as the attorney in fact of another, does not hold the character of trustee, and is not a necessary party to represent the interest of the principal.”

“The defendant, therefore, cannot be listened to now, when he assigns as error the non-joinder of Eice as co-plaintiff.”

“The objection that the securities are not promissory notes, and therefore do not import consideration, if of any force, comes too- late.”

Synopsis

Appeal from the Fourth Judicial District.

This was an action brought to foreclose a mortgage on a lot in San Francisco, at the southwest corner of Powell and Broadway streets, executed December 25th, 1849, by defendant, Eoss and his wife, to Alfred Eobinson, attorney in fact of the plaintiff, Angelica T. Powell, to secure the payment of $16,000. The mortgage provided that, on the payment of that sum, the mortgage, and eight promissory notes of said Eoss, bearing the same date, and amounting in the aggregate to $16,000, payable in gold dust, at $16 per ounce, troy, should be void. Subsequently to the execution of the mortgage, the plaintiff was married to one Eice.

Judgment was rendered for plaintiff.

Defendant appealed.

The questions raised on appeal are-stated, in the opinion.

* Mr. Justice Heydeneeldt delivered the opinion [198] of the Court.

Mr. Ch. J. Murray concurred. 1. One who is described in an instrument, whether parol or special, as the attorney in fact of another, does not hold the character of trustee, and is not a necessary party to represent the interest of the principal. Our statute requires every action to be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.

2. It was unnecessary to make Mrs. Eoss a party defendant. Her joining in the mortgage was unnecessary to make-it valid, unless it was her separate estate. This is not set up in the defense, which should have been done, to make the point relied on available. If it is her separate property, her rights remain unaffected by the decree of foreclosure.

3. The husband of the plaintiff was joined with her at the commencement of the suit, and upon the objection of the defendant that he was not a proper party, the plaintiff was nonsuited and forced to amend by omitting him. The defendant, therefore, cannot be listened to now, when he assigns as error the non-joinder of Eice as co-plaintiff.

[1994]. The objection that the securities are not promissory notes, and therefore do not import consideration, if of any force, comes too- late. It should have been taken advantage of on demurrer; and a demurrer having been filed without pointing out this defect, it must be considered as waived. Further than this, the answer fully admits the consideration for which the instruments were executed; and where, upon any objection we can plainly discover from the record, that no injustice has been done, we will not reverse the judgment.

Judgment affirmed.

Powell v. Ross

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