Where plaintiffs or defendants sue or are sued as partners, and their names are set forth in the declaration or bill, or where a plaintiff or defendant sues or is sued as a corporation, it shall not be necessary to prove the fact of such partnership or the existence of such corporation, unless the pleading which puts the matter in issue be verified, or there be an affidavit filed therewith denying such partnership or the existence of such corporation. A plea putting in issue the existence of a corporation shall be sufficient if it be in form or effect as follows:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 56-4-47

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.

"And the said defendant for plea says that the plaintiff (or defendant, as the case may be) is not a corporation, as in the plaintiff's declaration is alleged."