Summary
In Weaver Coal Co. v. R.I. Co-operative Coal Co., 27 R.I. 194, and in all cases following that, it has been held that the want of capacity to sue on the part of a foreign corporation should be set up by a plea in abatement and is waived by pleading to the merits.
Summary of this case from Michaels-Bauer, Inc. v. DoughtyOpinion
June 14, 1905.
PRESENT: Douglas, C.J., Dubois and Blodgett, JJ.
(1) Pleading. Foreign Corporations. Want of capacity to sue should be set up by a plea in abatement, and is waived by pleading to the merits. A motion to dismiss an action on the ground that the plaintiff, a foreign corporation, has not complied with the statutes of this State relating to such corporations will be denied after a plea in bar to the action by defendant.
ASSUMPSIT. Heard on motion to dismiss, and denied.
Edwards Angell, for plaintiff.
Williams McCabe, for defendant.
This is an action of assumpsit for $1,863.77, balance due upon a cargo of coal sold and delivered to defendant.
November 11, 1904, the defendant filed its plea of general issue and account in set-off, amounting to $500, against the plaintiff, and afterwards on, March 28, 1905, filed its motion to dismiss the case "on the ground that said plaintiff corporation, being a foreign corporation, has not complied with the provisions of chapter 253 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and chapter 980 of the Public Laws of Rhode Island by appointing some person resident in this State as attorney to accept service of process." Want of capacity to sue should be set up by a plea in abatement, and is waived by pleading to the merits. 1 Ency. Pl. Pr. 10, and cases cited.
After a plea in bar to the action the defendant can not plead in abatement, unless for new matter arising after the commencement of the suit." Chit. Pl. *p. 441.
The motion to dismiss is therefore denied.