Case ID: tex_20/html/0455-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Roberts, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Graves v. Farquhar and Another.
    Where the petition did not state what interest was stipulated, but claimed legal interest, a judgment by default for the principal and interest at ten per cent., was reversed and reformed, although the note in which such judgment was rendered stipulated for ten per cent.; and it was said that this case was settled by the principles announced in the preceding case of Trabue v. Stonum.
    Error from Washington. The Reporters were not furnished with the record in this case, by the Clerk.
    Rogers, for defendants in error.
   Roberts, J.

This case is settled by the principles announced in the case of Trabue et al. v. Stonum, decided at this Term.

The petition does not state what interest was stipulated, and claims in the prayer “ legal interest due thereon.” The defendant below, who was served with a copy of this petition, had no right to expect that the note produced in Court should bear any greater than legal interest.

The note produced, however, upon which the damages were assessed by the clerk, and which appears in the record, stipulates the conventional interest of ten per cent, per annum; and the judgment is rendered for such conventional interest.

To the extent of the difference between legal interest and said conventional interest, the judgment is erroneous ; because plaintiff below should not have recovered what he did not claim in his petition. Judgment reversed and reformed.

Reversed and reformed.