Case ID: nc_67/html/0038-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BotdeN, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

W. F. LEWIS, Ex’r. of K. H. LEWIS, vs. G. W. JOHNSTON, Adm’r. of JAS. S. CLARK.
    Where the plea of “fully administered ” is found for the defendant and a judgment guando rendered for the plaintiff, the defendant is entitled to judgment against the plaintiff for his costs.
    
      [YieCbom v. Gordon, 1 Mur. 502. Battle v. Borlce, 1 Dev. 228, and Terry v. Vest, It Ire. 65, cited and approved.]
    Debt, brought in 1867 to the Superior Court of Pitt and tried at Fall Term, 1871, before Moore, J.
    
    The defendant’s pleas were general issue and fully administered. The plaintiff admitted the latter plea and the former was found in his favor.
    His Honor thereupon rendered a judgment qua/ndo against the defendant as administrator, and a judgment for plaintiff’s costs against him de bonispropriis, and the defendant appealed.
    No counsel for the plaintiff.
    
      Johnston & Nelson and Smith & Strong for the defendant:
   BotdeN, J.

The question attempted to be raised in this case is not an open question.

The decisions and the practice have been uniform ever since the case of Welborn v. Gordon, 1 Murphy, 502, decided A. D. 1800, where it is said that, whenever an administrator established the plea fully administered, ho is entitled to judgment and execution for his costs against the plaintiff individually.

Again, in the case of Battle v. Rorke 1 Dev 228, decided in 1827, the question was fully considered and the same decision made. In that case the pleas were non assumpsit, payment, and set o^plene adminisi/ravit.

And in that case Chief Justice Taylor says : “ The case depends upon the construction of the act of 1777, concerning costs, and the principles of pleading as applicable to the particular defence relied upon by the administrator. The act provides that in all cases whatsoever, the party in whose favor judgment shall be given shall be entitled to full costs, unless where it is, or may be, otherwise directed by statute. Was judgment given in favor of the defendant in the original action ? No rule of pleading is better settled, at common law, than if the plaintiff joins issue upon the plea of jviene administravii, and it is found against him, the judgment is that he takes nothing by his bill. And it is only where he confesses the plea to be true that the plaintiff is entitled to judgment guando.” The same doctrine is announced by Chief Justice Buffin, in the case of Terry v. Vest, admr. 11 Ire. 65, and the practice in this particular lus been uniform for more than half a century.

There is error. Judgment reversed and judgment here that the defendant recover his costs in the Court below, and in this Court.

Peb CubiaM, Judgment reversed.