AUTER ACTION PENDANT (L. Fr. another action pending). , In Pleading. A plea that another action is already pending.
This plea may be made either at law or in equity. 1 Chitty, Plead. 393; Story, Eq. Plead. 736.
2. The second suit must be for the same cause, 2 Dick. Ch. 611 ; 5 Cal. 48; 8 id. 207; 2 Dutch. N. J. 461 ; 18 Ga. 604; 25 Penn. St. 314; 26 Vt. 673 ; 4 Blackf. Ind. 156 but a writ of error may abate a suit on the judg ment, 2 Johns. Cas. N. Y. 312; and if in equity, for the same purpose, 2 Mylne & C. Ch. 602• see 1 Conn. 154; and in the same right. Story, Eq.. Plead. 739.
The suits must be such in which the same judgment may be rendered. 17 Pick. Mass. 19 id. 523. They must be between the same parties. 26 Ala. N. s. 720; 13 B. Monr. Ky. 197; 18 Vt. 138 ; in person or interest.
21 N. 11. 570; 1 Grant, Cas. Penn. 359; 2 Bail. So. C. 362; 2 J. J. Marsh. Ky. 281. The parties need not be precisely the same. 5 Wise. 151.
A suit for labor is not abated by a subse quent proceeding in rem to enforce a lien. 4 Ill. 20]. See 1 B. Monr. Ky. 257. A suit in trespass is temporarily barred by a pre vious proceeding in rem to enforce for for feiture. 3 Wheat. 314.
3. The prior action must have been in a do mestio court, 3 Atk. Ch. 589; 4 Yes. Ch. 357; 1 Sim. & S. Ch. 491 • 9 Johns. N. Y. 221. 12 id. 9; 2 Curt. C. C. 559; 22 Conn. 8 Tex. 351; 13 Ill. 486 ; see 10 Pick. Mass. 470; 3 M'Cord, So. C. 338; but a foreign attach ment against the same subject-matter may be shown, 5 Johns. N. Y. 101; 9 id. 221; 7 Ala. N. s. 151; 1 Penn. 442; 5 Litt. Ky. 349; see 8 Mass. 456; 7 Vt. 124; 1 Hall, N. Y. 137; and of the same character, 22 Eng. L. & Eq. 62; 10 Ala. N. s. 887; Story, Eq. Plead. 736; thus a suit at law is no bar to one in equity, 8 B. Monr. Ky. 428; but the plaintiff may elect, and equity will enjoin him from pro ceeding at law if he elect to proceed in equity. Story, Eq. Plead. 742. A suit in the cir cuit court having jurisdiction will abate a suit in the state court, 22 N. H. 21, if in the same state. 12 Johns. N. Y. 99. So will a suit in a state court abate one in the circuit court, 4 McLean, C. C. 233; but not unless jurisdiction is shown. 1 Curt. C. C. 494; 3 McLean, C. C. 221; 3 Sumn. C. C. 165.
4. A suit pending in equity will not abate a suit at law, 22 Conn. 485 ; 16 Vt. 234 ; 3 Watts & S. Penn. 395 ; 7 Mete. Mass. 570 ; see 1 Rich. So. C. 438, and of equal or supe rior jurisdiction, Cooper, Eq. Plead. 274; 5 Coke, 62 ; 2 Wile. 87, 280; 2 Ld. Raym. 1102; 17 Ala. N. S. 430 ; but it is sufficient if the inferior court have jurisdiction. 4 Hen. & M. Va. 487.
In general, the plea must be in abatement, 1 Grant, Cas. Penn. 359 ; 20 Ill. 637; 5 Wisc. 151; 3 McLean, C. C. 221; but in a penal action at the suit of a common informer, the priority of a former suit for the same penalty in the name of a third person may be pleaded in bar, because the party who first sued is entitled to the penalty. 1 Chitty. Plead. 443 ;
1 Penn. 442 ; 2 J. J. Marsh. Ky. 281.
5. It must be pleaded in abatement of the subsequent action in order of time. 1 Wheat. 215 ; 20 111. 637 ; 5 Wisc. 151; 1 Hempst. C. C. 708 ; 3 Gilm. Va. 498 ; 17 Pick. Mass. 510 ; 19 id. 13 ; 21 Wend. N. Y. 339.
It must show an action pending or judg ment obtained at the time of the plea, 2 Dutch. N. J. 461; 11 Tex. 259 ; 1 Mich. 254; but it is sufficient to show it pending when the second suit was commenced, 5 Mass. 79 ; 1 id. 495 ; 2 N. H. 36 ; 3 Rawle, Penn. 320 ; for the rule where both suits are commenced at the same time, see 9 N. H. 545 ; 8 Conn. 71 ; 3 Wend. N. Y. 258 ; 4 IIalst. N. J. 58 ; 7 Vt. 124; and the plaintiff cannot avoid such a plea by discontinuing the first action subsequently to the plea. 1 Salk. 329; 2 Ld. Raym. 1014 ; 5 Mass. 174; 3 Dan. Ky. 157 ; contra, 1 Johns. Cas. N. Y. 397 ; 26 Vt. 673 ; 15 Ga. 270. And a prior suit discontinued before plea pleaded in the subsequent one will not abate such suit. 13 B. Monr. Ky. 197; 7 Ala. N. s. 601. It may be pleaded in abatement of the action in the inferior court, and must aver appearance, or at least service of process. 1 Vern. Ch. 318. Suing out a writ is said to be sufficient at common law. 1 Hempst. C. C. 213.; 7 Ala. N. s. 601. See Lis PENOENS.
6. It must be shown that the court enter taining the first suit has jurisdiction. 17 Ala. N. s. 430 ; 22 N. H. 21; 1 Curt. C. C. 494.
It must be proved by the defendant by record evidence. 1 Hempst. C. C. 213 ; 22 N. H. 21; 2 id. 361; 17 Ala. 469 •, 5 Mass. 174. It is said that if the first suit he so defective that no recovery can be had, it will not abate the second. 15 Ga. 270 ; 5 Tex. 127 ; 20 Conn. 510 ; 1 Root, Conn. 335; 21 Vt. 362 ; 3 Penn. St. 434 ; 8 Mass. 456. See 5 Blackf. Ind. 84.
A pricr indictment pending does not abate a second for the same offence. 5 Ind. 533 ; 3 Cush. Mass. 279 ; Thach. Crim. Cas. Mass. 513. See 1 Hawks. No. C. 78.
When a defendant is arrested pending a former suit or action in which he was held to bail, he will not, in general, be held to bail if the second suit be for the same cause of action. Graham, Pract. 98 ; Troubat & II. Pract. 44 ; 4 Yeates, Penn. 206. Pendency of one attachment will abate a second in the same county. 15 Miss. 333.
But under special circumstances, in the discretion of the court, a second arrest will be allowed. 2 Miles, Penn. 99, 100, 141 5 14 Johns. N. Y. 347.
See, generally, Gould, Stephen, and Chitty on Pleading ; Story, Mitford, and Beames on Equity Pleading ; Bacon, Abr. Abatement, Bail in Civil Cases.