{
  "id": 8650610,
  "name": "JOHN BANKS v. GAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY",
  "name_abbreviation": "Banks v. Gay Manufacturing Co.",
  "decision_date": "1891-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "282",
  "last_page": "283",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "108 N.C. 282"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
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      "category": "reporters:state",
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        8694142
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    {
      "cite": "78 N. C., 499",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8697075
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/78/0499-01"
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    {
      "cite": "87 N. C., 22",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8683937
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      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/87/0022-01"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:38:29.877932+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "JOHN BANKS v. GAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Clark, J.:\nThe Code, \u00a7 258, prescribes, \u201c when a corporation is a party, the verification may be made by any officer thereof.\u201d The answer of the defendant company is sworn to by an agent merely, and his Honor rightly held that the answer was not verified. The Code, \u00a7 217, permits a summons against a corporation to be served on an agent, but this was not extended to verification of pleadings by the corporation. There is an evident reason for the difference. Besides, if the answer of a corporation could be verified by an agent, the affidavit is not sufficient, in that it does not set forth \u201c his knowledge or the grounds of his belief on the subject, and the reason why it is not made by the party.\u201d When the verification is by an officer of the company this is not required, for the officer speaks for and is the mouth-piece of the corporation (Bank v. Hutchison, 87 N. C., 22), but it is necessarj1' to be set out in all cases where the verification is made by an agent or attorney.\nThe Court in its discretion might have allowed the answer to be verified properly (The Code, \u00a7 274), and have granted a continuance for that purpose, as prayed by the defendant, but its refusal of the continuance is not reviewable. State v. Lindsey, 78 N. C., 499; State v. Scott, 80 N. C., 365.\nThere being a judgment by default and inquiry, the issue tendered by defendant was properly refused, and in lieu thereof there was submitted to the jury the issue, \u201cWhat damages, if any, has plaintiff sustained?\u201d The issue tendered by defendant was not raised, as there was no answer, and that matter was settled by the judgment by default.\nThe only inquiry was as to the quantum of damages, which was submitted. No error.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Clark, J.:"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Mr. W. M. Bond (by brief), for plaintiff.",
      "No counsel contra."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "JOHN BANKS v. GAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY.\nPleading\u2014 Verification \u2014 Issue\u2014Judgment by Default and Inquiry\u2014 Corporation\u2014 Contin\u00faan ce.\n1. When a pleading by a corporation is required to be verified the verification must be ma le by an officer thereof; a verificati m by an agent merely will not suffice. The Code. \u00a7258.\n2. When a verification of a pleading is allowed to be made by an agent, it should set forth his knowledge, or grounds of belief, and why it is not made by the principal party.\n3. After a judgment by default and inquiry in an action for malicious prosecution the only issue fur the jury is the amount of plaintiff\u2019s damages.\n4. Granting or refusing a continuance is a matter of di.-cretiOn, and not re' iewable.\nCivil action, for damages for malicious prosecution, tried before Whitaker, J., at Spring Term, 1890, Gates County Superior Court.\nWhen the case was called for trial, the defendant offered to file an answer to the verified complaint, to which plaintiff objected because of defective verification. It was admitted that the defendant was a corporation, and that C. W. Dennis was an agent, but not an officer of the same. The verification was as follows:\n\u201c O. W. Dennis, agent for the said Gay Manufacturing Company, being duly sworn, maketh oath that the facts stated in the above answer are true of his own knowledge.\u201d\nUpon objection to the verification, defendant moved for a continuance, in order to have the answer properly verified by an officer of the corporation. This motion was overruled, and the defendant excepted.\nThe defendant requested the Court to submit to the jury this issue: \u201cDid the defendant prosecute the plaintiff maliciously and without probable cause?\u201d\nThis the Court refused, and submitted only the issue: \u201cWhat damage, if any, has the plaintiff sustained?\u201d and the defendant excepted.\nVerdict and judgment for plaintiff.\nMotion for new trial overruled. Defendant appealed.\nMr. W. M. Bond (by brief), for plaintiff.\nNo counsel contra."
  },
  "file_name": "0282-01",
  "first_page_order": 316,
  "last_page_order": 317
}