Case ID: johns_19/html/0265-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Per Curiam.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Merritt against Lefevre and Zeliff.
    Under the act. JuSctmn * of ^eace^sesViL ¡¿¿«¡Is an'apg®®1 mon Pleas, the appellee is en» titled to costs,in all cases where a verdict is found in his favour. .
    
      MERRITT brought an action against L. and Z. in a juslice’s Court, under the act extending the jurisdiction of justices of the peace, (sess. 41. ch. 94.) and recovered fifty dollars. The defendants appealed to the Court of C. P. of Ulster county; and on the trial of the appeal in that Court, a verdict was found for the appellee, for less than 11 twenty-jive dollars; and the Court awarded costs to the ap- , v 1 pellantS. ,
    
      Cole, for the appellee,
    now moved for a writ of mandamus directed to the judges of the Court of C. P., commanding them to vacate the rule entered by them awarding costs to the appellants, and to enter a rule awarding costs to the appellee.
    
      Sudam, contra.
    In the 20th section of the act, it is declared, that if judgment shall be rendered for the appellee, he may, at his election, “ have execution on such judgment, for the amount thereof, together with costs, as in other cases on judgments in the said Court of Common Pleas.” Now, where a judgment is recovered in a Court of C. P. for iess than twenty-five dollars, the defendant is entitled to costs. The appellant brought the action, at his own risk, un^er this act before the justice, to recover fifty dollars, and if he has failed in the experiment, it is his own fault. He is entitled to costs only where he would have been entitled to them in the Court of Common Pleas, before the passing of the act to extend the jurisdiction of justices of the peace. The appeal is remedial; and if a verdict should be recovered before a justice for forty-nine dollars, which on appeal should be reduced to one dollar, and yet the appellant must pay costs, the remedy would be worse than the disease.
   Per Curiam.

We are of opinion that the words, “ as in other cases on judgments in the said Court of Common Pleas,” in the twentieth section of the act, apply only to the manner of issuing the execution, not to the judgment or amount to be recovered. The appellee is entitled to costs in all cases where there is a verdict in his favour.

Rule granted.