Harris v. Webster

By the doctrine of the English common law, husband and wife have always been required to sue jointly for injuries to the person or character of the wife, committed during coverture. Dicey on Parties 389 ; 1 Ch. Pl. 78. The wrongful act — for example, an assault upon the wife- — may involve two distinct wrongs, and afford two distinct causes of action. The first is the assault upon the wife ; and the second is the damage occasioned thereby (through loss of service) to the husband. The husband cannot sue alone merely for the injury done to the wife, but he may sue alone for the damage…