Teague v. Siler City Oil Co.

Decision Date03 May 1950
Docket NumberNo. 243,243
Citation232 N.C. 65,59 S.E.2d 2
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court
PartiesTEAGUE et ux. v. SILER CITY OIL CO. et al.

Thomas C. Carter, Burlington, Long & Ross, Graham, and Bell & Horton, Pittsboro, for plaintiffs.

Smith, Wharton, Sapp & Moore, Greensboro, for defendant American Oil Co.

J. L. Moody, P. Dixon, Siler City, and Barber & Thompson, Pittsboro, for Siler City Oil Co.

DENNY, Justice.

A demurrer should be sustained where there is a misjoinder of parties and causes of action, and the court is not authorized in such cases, to direct a severance of the respective causes of action for trial under the provisions of G.S. § 1-132. Moore County v. Burns, 224 N.C. 700, 32 S.E.2d 225; Southern Mills, Inc., v. Summit Yarn Co., 223 N.C. 479, 27 S.E.2d 289; Wingler v. Miller, 221 N.C. 137, 19 S.E.2d 247; Citizens' Nat. Bank v. Angelo, 193 N.C. 576, 137 S.E. 705; Rose v. Fremont Warehouse & Improvement Co., 182 N.C. 107, 108 S.E. 389; Taylor v. Postal Life Ins. Co., 182 N.C. 120, 108 S.E. 502; Roberts v. Utility Mfg. Co., 181 N.C. 204, 106 S.E. 664; Thigpen v. Kinston Cotton Mills, 151 N.C. 97, 65 S.E. 750; McIntosh N.C. Practice and Procedure, p. 467.

There is no allegation to the effect that while the title to the real estate involved in the action is in Owne H. Teague, the co-plaintiff, Helen Teague, has an equity in said real estate and the improvements erected thereon, as was the case in Walker v. Standard Oil Co., 222 N.C. 607, 24 S.E.2d 254. The same is true with respect to the personalty which is alleged to have been destroyed.

The appellees contend, however, that since the defendants filed answers to the original complaint, it would be necessary for them to withdraw these answers by leave of court, before they would have the right to demur to the amended complaint on the ground that there is a misjoinder of parties and causes of action, citing Ezzell v. Merritt, 224 N.C. 602, 31 S.E.2d 751. We do not concur in this view. When the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, the defendants had the right to elect whether to answer or demur. In Ezzell v. Merritt, supra, the defendant undertook to demur to the original complaint on the ground of a misjoinder of parties and causes of action, after he had filed an answer thereto, without withdrawing his answer by leave of court. A defendant is not permitted, under our practice, to answer and demur at the same time, Rosenbacher & Bro. v. Martin, 170 N.C. 236, 86 S.E. 785, except as to the...

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11 cases
  • Perry v. Doub
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • September 23, 1953
    ...v. Greensboro Joint Stock Land Bank, 213 N.C. 343, 196 S.E. 481; and where both occur, severance is not permissible. Teague v. Silver City Oil Co., 232 N.C. 65, 59 S.E.2d 2. The demurrer as interposed does not present for review the question whether the plaintiffs are entitled to recover pu......
  • Diamond Brand Canvas Products Co. v. Christy, 28
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • October 14, 1964
    ...of Products Company and of Kemp are separate and distinct. Thigpen v. Kinston Cotton Mills, 151 N.C. 97, 65 S.E. 750; Teague v. Siler City Oil Co., 232 N.C. 65, 59 S.E.2d 2; s. c., 232 N.C. 469, 61 S.E.2d 345. Under our decisions, if Products Company and Kemp had asserted their respective c......
  • Erickson v. Starling
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • May 2, 1951
    ...in such case, to order a severance of the causes of action for trial under the provisions of G. S. § 1-132. Teague v. Silver City Oil Co., 232 N.C. 65, 59 S.E.2d 2; Rose v. Fremont Warehouse & Improvement Co., 182 N.C. 107, 108 S.E. All the plaintiffs are trying to do here, however, is to f......
  • McBryde v. Coggins-McIntosh Lumber Co.
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 7, 1957
    ...causes. G.S. § 1-134; Roberts v. Grogan, 222 N.C. 30, 21 S.E.2d 829; Ezzell v. Merritt, 224 N.C. 602, 31 S.E. 2d 751; Teague v. Siler City Oil Co., 232 N.C. 65, 59 S.E.2d 2. This rule does not prevent the plaintiffs from demurring ore tenus for misjoinder of parties and causes. The plaintif......
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