Kendrick v. Diamond Creek Consolidated Gold Mining Co.

Foote, C. This appeal is from an order of the court below refusing to change the place of trial of the cause from Nevada County to the city and county of San Francisco.

It appears from the complaint that the Diamond Creek Consolidated Gold Mining Company is an association of numerous persons joined together for the purpose of opening, developing, and working gold mines in the county of Nevada, state of California; that the injury complained of was inflicted in Nevada County, and was occasioned by their neglect in that county, while engaged in their business there. After demurrer filed to the complaint, the court below refused to change the place of trial, on the ground “ that the defendants are shown by the complaint to be an association, and engaged in business as such in the county of Nevada, where the alleged cause of action accrued, and, as appears by the complaint herein, the alleged injury was inflicted, and that as such association they were, under section 16 of article XII. of the constitution of the state of California, [138]liable to be sued in the county of Nevada, where the cause of action accrued.

The only argument made against this ruling seems to be that the complaint does not make it evident that the association mentioned possessed any of “the powers or privileges of a corporation,” and that the word “ association,” as used in the section of the constitution supra, was intended to mean such an association as did possess such powers and privileges, and that unless such allegation descriptive of the character of the association did appear in the complaint, that it would not appear therefrom that such an association was meant as that to which the constitutional provision had reference.

The language of that section of the constitution is: “ A corporation or association may be sued in the county where the contract is made or is to be performed, or where the obligation or liability arises or the breach occurs,” etc.

It is evident that the words “ corporation or association ” do not convey the idea that the association meant was to have any “ corporate powers or privileges,” and there is nothing else in the section itself which gives color or makes, a suggestion that the word “ association ” is intended to signify anything else than that word, standing alone, would ordinarily be taken to mean.

We think the court below was right, and that its order should be affirmed, and so advise.