M'DUFFEE V. BOSTON & M. R. CO.
866
McDUFFEE et al. v. BOSTON & M. R. CO. (Circuit Court, D. Vermont. 1. October 13, 1897.) SECURITY FOR COSTS-POOR SUITORS-AFFIDAVIT OF POVERTY.
Under the provision of 27 Stat. 252· (2 Supp. Rev. St. p. 41), that, a1'ter suit brought, "the plaintiff may answer, and avoid a demand for fees, or security for costs, by filing" an affidavit that, because of his poverty, he is unable to payor give security, etc., it is the filing of the affidavit, and not the truth of it, that constitutes an "answer" to the defendant's demand. who is sui juris, but, where some of fuem are infants, the affidavit of their next friend, who represents them, will suffice. It seems that the statute requires the personal affidavit of each plaintifi' VIT. SUING BY NEXT FRIEND.
2.
3.
SAME-TIME OF FILING
Though the affidavit is not filed until after the granting, upon notice to plaintiff, of an order for a cost bond, it is not too late, for the order itself is a "demand" which the plaintiff may thus "answer and avoid."
This was an action at law by Delia M. McDuffee and others against the Boston & Maine Railroad Company. The case was heard upon a motion made by plaintiffs to set aside an order requiring them to give a cost bond. Chas. A. Prouty, for plaintiffs. John Young, for defendant. WHEELER, District'Judge. The .defendant, on notice, procured an order for a cost bond to be filed by November 15th next. An act of July 20, 1892, provides that any citizen of the United States entitled to sue in any court of the United States may do so "without being required to prepay fees or costs, or give security therefor before or after bringing suit or action upon filing in said court a statement under oath in writing that because of his poverty .he is unable to pay the costs of said suit or action which he is about to commence, or give security for the same, and that he believes he is entitled to the redress he seeks by such suit or action," and that, after suit brought, "the plaintiff may answer and avoid a demand for fees, or security for costs, by filing a like affidavit." 27 Stat. 252 (2 Supp. Rev. St. p. 41). The plaintiffs are a widow and infant children, and have, since the order, filed the widow's affidavit setting forth the circumstances, and that they are unable, by reason of their poverty, to give the cost bond required by the order; and the defendant has filed proof tending to the contrary. The statute does not, however, provide that the affida"it shall not, if untrue, be an answer to a demand for security for costs in an action pending, but only that the court "may dismiss any such cause so brought under this act, if it be made to appear that the allegation of poverty is untrue," and that willful false swearing in the affidavit shall be punishable as perjury. The filing of the affidavit, and not the truth of it, is what the statute makes an answer to the demand. And, if the affidavit might be avoided by being disproved, the defendant's evidence merely shows that she has a house and lot worth $1,800, subject to mortgages of $1,300, which, without proof of her other circumstances, might not be sufficient to overcome the affidavit. The statute seems to require the 82 F.-55
82
REPi)RTER.
personal affidavit of ,Plaintiffs, and of each who is sui juris; but thesp. infants are not, and,they are so represented by their mother as next friend that her atJidavit is sufficient. As this affidavit was not filed in answer to the motion before that was. heard, but after the order, a question is made as to whethedt is in due season. I(the demand of the ijtatutewas no more than a motion, it would not be; but the word is broader, and the order is itself a demand, as well as the motion, although more imperative; and so the statute seems to cover this, with all other, demands. The present motion is to set aside the order, but the effect given to the affidavit by the statute is to answer, not. to set aside; and the effect here is not to set aside the order, but to answer it. Order of cost bond answered.
CALIFORNIA SAV. BANK OF SAN DIEGO v. AMERICAN SURETY CO. OF NEW YORK·
.' (Circuit Court, S. D. California. No. 706.
October 18, 1891.)
1.
INDEMNITY BONDS-PLEADING-PROOFS
to reiLlburse any loss sustained by plaintiff, throug'll the fraud or dishonesty of Its employes therein named, "within three months next after notice, accompanied by satisfactory proof of loss, * * * has been given to" plaintiff. The complaint did not, in terms, allege the giVing of proof of loss, Put did allege that "plaintiff duly kept and performed all the conditions of said bond on Its part.". The statute of California (Code Civ. Proc. § 457) provides that, in pleading"the performance'of conditions precedent In a contract, "It may be stated generally that the party duly performed all t'he conditions on his part." On demurrer, held, that this statute did not relieve plaintiff of the necessity of allegillg facts showing that three months had elapsed after proof of loss, and before the action was brought. SAME.
An action was brought on two bonds, by which defendant was obligated
OF"Loss.
The complaint also alleged that the sum demanded "Is now due." a mere conclusion of·law.
.
Held.
3. SAME.
'-
The complaint alleged that plaintiff gave notice of the loss In 1895, and that defendant had In fact "been fully advised and Informed of and concerning the aforesaid breaches * · · ever since the month of May, 1892." Held, that this fact did not dispense with the necessity of furnishing proof of loss, as a condition precedent to right of action. SAME-Tn«E OF DISCOVERY OF Loss. The obligation of defendant, as expressed In the bonds, was to make good "all and any pecuniary loss sustained by the employer, · · * and discovered within six mont'hs from the death or dismissal or retirement of the employe from the service of the employer." Held, that an allegation that the loss was discovered within such six months was essential to the statement of a cause of action.
McDonald & McDonald llnd D. O. Collier, for plaintiff. Allen & Flint, for defendant. WELLBORN, District Judge. This action is upon two bonds, each of which obligates the defendant, subject to certain provisions, to reimburse /lny loss sustained by plaintiff. through the fraud or dishonesty of the employes therein named; the employe named in one bond being