Duplis v. Rutland Aerie, No. 1001, Fraternal Order of Eagles

Decision Date01 February 1955
Docket NumberNo. 1051,1051
Citation111 A.2d 727,118 Vt. 438
PartiesFrederick DUPLIS v. RUTLAND AERIE, NO. 1001, FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES.
CourtVermont Supreme Court

Abatiell, Radigan & Delliveneri, Rutland, for plaintiff.

Ryan, Smith & Carbine, Rutland, for defendant.

Before SHERBURNE, C. J., CLEARY, ADAMS and CHASE, JJ., and SMITH, Superior Court Judge.

CLEARY, Justice.

This is an action in tort to recover damages for injuries suffered by the plaintiff on April 22, 1951, when he tripped and fell on the stairway while leaving the defendant's premises. The case is here on the plaintiff's exception to the sustaining of the defendant's demurrer to the plaintiff's complaint, the cause having been passed to this Court before final judgment, pursuant to the provisions of V.S.1947, § 2124.

The causes of the demurrer are that the complaint alleges (1) that the defendant was an unincorporated fraternal beneficiary association and voluntary mutual benefit society; (1) that the plaintiff was a member in good standing of said defendant society; (3) acts of negligence on the part of the association through its officers, employees and agents for which the plaintiff seeks to hold the defendant liable in tort for damages, but acts of negligence of such agents are imputed to all members including this plaintiff so the plaintiff may not recover.

In his brief the plaintiff has introduced matter which is not in the pleadings. This matter cannot be included because on demurrer only what appears in the complaint can be considered by this Court. State v. Caplan, 100 Vt. 140, 155, 135 A. 705; Powell & Powell v. Greenleaf & Currier, 103 Vt. 46, 48, 151 A. 508.

In his brief the plaintiff states that all officers, employees and agents of the defendant unincorporated association, at all times material, were co-members and co-partners with the plaintiff, engaged in a joint and common enterprise. In oral argument plaintiff's counsel stated that the parties were engaged in a joint enterprise as partners. They are so considered under our decisions. Walker v. Wait, 50 Vt. 668, 674; Patch Mfg. Co. v. Capeless, 79 Vt. 1, 6, 63 A. 938; Houghton v. Grimes, 100 Vt. 99, 105, 135 A. 15. For this reason the plaintiff cannot maintain the present suit. No one can be interested as a party on both sides of the record. One partner cannot sue a partnership of which he is a member. Green & Roberts v. Chapman, 27 Vt. 236, 239; Beede v. Fraser & Co., 66 Vt. 114, 117, 28 A. 880; Manatee Loan &...

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10 cases
  • Cox v. Thee Evergreen Church, D-0938
    • United States
    • Texas Supreme Court
    • July 1, 1992
    ...18 (1980); Walsh v. Israel Couture Post, N. 2274, 542 A.2d 1094 (R.I.1988); Duplis v. Rutland Aerie, No. 1001, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 118 Vt. 438, 111 A.2d 727 (1955); Carr v. Northern Pacific Benef. Assoc., 128 Wash. 40, 221 P. 979 (1924); Fray v. Amalgamated Meat Cutters, 9 Wis.2d 631......
  • Crocker v. Barr
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • March 22, 1988
    ...Goins v. Missouri Pacific System Federation, 272 F.2d 458 (8th Cir.1959); Duplis v. Rutland Aeire, No. 1001, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 118 Vt. 438, 111 A.2d 727 (1955); and Mastrini v. Nuova Loggia Monte Grappa, 1 Pa.D. & C.2d 245 (1954). Cases rejecting the general rule include: Joseph v.......
  • Glover v. Brotherhood of Ry. and S. S. Clerks, Freight Handlers, Exp. and Station Emp.
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 8, 1959
    ...Kordewick v. Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, 7 Cir., 1950, 181 F.2d 963; Duplis v. Rutland Aerie, No. 1001, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1955, 118 Vt. 438, 111 A.2d 727; Marchitto v. Central R. Co. of New Jersey, 1952, 9 N.J. 456, 88 A.2d 851; Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen v. Allen, Tex.......
  • Buteas v. Raritan Lodge No. 61 F. & A.M.
    • United States
    • New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division
    • May 20, 1991
    ...and Pennsylvania continue to find the joint enterprise doctrine persuasive. See Duplis v. Rutland Aerie, No. 1001, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 118 Vt. 438, 111 A.2d 727 (1955); Boehm v. Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, 748 P.2d 704 (1987); De Villars v. Hessler, 363 Pa. 498, 70 A.2d 333 (19......
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