CODE CIVIL PROCEDURE
Pleadings in §§ 7441-7445
ARTICLE 2
THE DEMURRER
§ 7441. Defendant may demur or answer. The only pleading on the part of the defendant is either a demurrer or an answer. It must be served within thirty days after the service of the copy of the complaint.
[R.C. 1905, § 6853; C. Civ. P. 1877, § 112; R.C. 1899, § 5367]
As to similar provision in Cal. Code Civ. Proc., § 423, see Jones v. Jones, 38 Cal. 584; Waugenheim v. Graham, 39 Cal. 169.
§ 7442. When may demur. The defendant may demure to the complaint when it shall appear upon the face thereof, either:
1. That the court has no jurisdiction of the person of the defendant, or the subject of the action; or
2. That the plaintiff has no legal capacity to sue; or,
3. That there is another action pending between the same parties for the same cause; or,
4. That there is a defect of parties, plaintiff or defendant; or
5. That several causes of action have improperly united; or
6. That the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.
[R.C. 1905, § 6854; C. Civ. P. 1877, § 113; R.C. 1899, § 5268.]
A pleading of conclusions only is demurrable. Van Dyke v. Doherty, 6 N.D. 263, 69 N.W. 200.
Demurrer must specify ground of objection. Hudson v. Archer, 4 S.D. 128, 55 N.W. 1099
Failure of corporation to comply with state laws raised by answer, not by demurrer. Acme Mer. Agency v. Rochford, 10 S.D. 203, 72 N.W. 466, 65 Am. St. Rep. 714; State v. Ry. Co., 4 S.D. 261, 56 N.W. 894, 46 Am. St. Rep. 783; American Button-Hole Co. v. Moore, 2 D. 280, 8 N.W. 131.
General demurrer to statement of facts does not raise question of jurisdiction. Woods v. Sheldon, 9 S.D. 392, 69 N.W. 602.
Demurrer only reaches defects on face of complaint. Burnett v. Castello, 15 S.D. 89, 87 N.W. 575.
"Defect of parties" means insufficient parties and not parties misjoined. Mader v. Plano Mfg. Co., 17 S.D. 553, 97 N.W. 843.
By going to trial upon merits on issue arising under complaint and answer defendant waived any rights to insist upon defect of parties defendant. State ex rel. Viking Twp. v. Mikkelson, 24 N.D. 175, 139 N.W. 525.
Right of one defendant to benefit of other's demurrer. 33 L.R.A. (N.S.) 310.
As to similar provisions in Cal. Code Civ. P., § 430 see People v. Central Pack. R. Co., 76 Cal. 29, 18 Pac. 90; Jenness v. Bowen, 77 Cal. 310, 19 Pac. 522; Davis v. Honey Lake W. Co., 98 Cal. 415, 33 Pac. 270; Silva v. Spangler, 3 Cal. Unrep. 277, 43 Pac. 617; People v. Oakland W. F. Co., 118 Cal. 234, 50 Pac. 305; Kyle v. Craig, 125 Cal. 107, 57 Pac. 791; Mitchell v. Steelman, 8 Cal. 363.
§ 7443-7444. Requisites of demurrer. The demurrer shall distinctly specify the grounds of objection to the complaint. Unless it does so, it may be disregarded. It may be taken to the whole complaint, or to any of the alleged causes of action stated therein.
[R.C. 1905, § 6855; C. Civ. P. 1877, § 114; R.C. 1899, § 5269.]
Demurrer should distinctly specify grounds of objection. O'Rourke v. Sioux Falls, 4 S.D. 47, 54 N.W. 1044, 46 Am. St. Rep. 760, 19 L.R.A. 789; Mather v. Dunn 11 S.D. 196, 76 N.W. 922, 74 Am. St. Rep. 788; Hudson v. Archer 4 S.D. 128, 55 N.W. 1099; Hill v. Walsh, 6 S.D. 421, 61 N.W. 440.
Joint demurrer to complaint in action instituted by several parties overruled if good as to any. Evans v. Fall River County, 9 S.D. 130, 68 N.W. 195.
As to similar provisions in Cal. Code Civ. Proc., § 431, see Churchill v. Pacific Imp Co., 490, 31 Pac. 560; Brown v. Martin 25 Cal. 82; People v. McClerllan, 31 Cal. 101; Maumus v. Hamblon, 38 Cal. 539.
§ 7445. Amended complaint. Service, etc. If the complaint is amended, a copy thereof must be served on the defendant, who must answer it within thirty days, or the plaintiff upon filing with the clerk due proof of the service and of the defendant's omission may proceed to obtain judgment as provided by section 7600, but when an application to the court for judgment is necessary, ten days' notice thereof must be given to the defendant.
[R.C. 1905, § 6856; C. Civ. P. 1877, § 115; R.C. 1899, § 5270.]
Applies only to complaints amended after demurrer, not to amendments during trial. J. I. Case Co. v. Eichinger, 15 S.D. 530, 91 N.W. 82.
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