Case ID: mass_2/html/0040-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Parker, J. Thatcher, J. Sedgwick, J. Dana, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Fulwar Skipwith, Plaintiff in Error, versus Samuel Hill
    A writ of error lies on a judgment of the Court of Common Pleas by default, although the defendant had a right of appeal.
    Error on a judgment of the Court of Common Pleas for this tounty, in January, 1798. The original writ, on which that judgment was founded, was served in June, 1795, by leaving an attested copy at the last and usual place of abode of Skipwith, the original defendant, and by summoning a number of persons as his trustees. Skipwith never appeared in the action, and in July, 1797, was defaulted.
    And now Parsons moved, on the part of Hill, to quash the writ of error, on the ground that an appeal lay in the case; and he stated it to be a rule of the Court that, where a party was entitled to an appeal, and neglected to avail himself of it, he should not have a writ of error.
   Parker, J.

If the plaintiff in error had appealed from this judgment, which was rendered upon default, he would have had no day in this Court. The rule suggested, if any such exists, [ * 36 ] * could never apply to this case. I think the writ should be supported.

Thatcher, J.

I know no such rule as this stated by Mr. Par sons. I am for sustaining the writ of error.

Sedgwick, J.

If an erroneous judgment, even of our own Court, is shown to us, we reverse it on a writ of error, which is a writ gran table ex debito justitice. If. we are satisfied that the judgment in this case ought not to have been rendered, we are bound to reverse it. Very mischievous consequences may be apprehended from the provision of our statute by which judgment may be rendered on default against a party defendant, who has had no notice of the suit; and I am greatly mistaken if many pernicious frauds have not been practised in this way. I am against the motion.

W. Sullivan for the plaintiff in error.

Dana, C. J.

I take it to have been decided, generally, that where a party has a right of appeal to this Court, and will not avail himself of it, he shall not afterwards be allowed his writ of error. Perhaps the rule has never been extended to a judgment on default, where no personal notice of the suit has been given. But where, after legal notice of the action in the lower court, a defendant suffers himself to be defaulted, he ought not to be permitted to lie by, and, at any time within twenty years, come in and reverse the judgment for a cause of which he might have availed himself in the original suit. In this case the writ is sustained.

Afterwards in this term the defendant in error pleaded in nullo est erratum. The judgment was reversed without argument. 
      
      
         Vide Rice vs. Smith, 11 Mass. Rep. 512.— Valier vs. Hart, 11 Mass. Rep. 300. — Putnam vs. Churchill, 4 Mass. Rep. 516. — Sed vide Savage vs. Gulliver, 4 Mass. Rep. 171.