Case ID: nc_49/html/0173-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Nash, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOSEPH WALDO AND COMPANY vs. LEVIN JOLLY.
    Where divers dealings are included in an account, the aggregate of which exceeds sixty dollars, the plaintiff can omit, or give credit for, any items he may choose, so as to bring the case within the jurisdiction of a single magistrate.
    Where there is but one item of dealing, which goes beyond sixty dollars, this cannot be done.
    The plaintiff cannot, however, after thus obtaining jurisdiction, prove the account under the book-debt law; for under that, he has to swear that the account sued on contains a full statement of all then' dealings.
    This was an ACTION of assumpsit, begun by warrrant, and brought up to the Superior Court of Martin, where it was tried before SauNDERS, J., at the Fall Term, 1856.
    The only question in the case was, whether, on an account containing various particulars amounting, in all, to more than sixty dollars, items could be credited so as to bring it within the jurisdiction of a single justice of the peace ; the credit being entered for that purpose only.
    His Honor, upon this question, was of opinion with the plaintiff, and gave judgment accordingly ; from which the defendant ajDpealed.
    
      Winston, jr., and Donnell, for plaintiffs.
    No counsel appeared for the defendant in this Court.
   Nash, C. J.

The action commenced before a single magistrate upon an account for sixty dollars; the account was, originally, for $72,95, but upon it was a receipt for $12,96, leaving the amount claimed, as stated in the warrant. On the argument it was insisted that the account, in its legal character, was one, and could not be cut up, without the assent of the defendant, into different parts, so as to bring it within the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace.

We do not agree to the proposition. It is not true in law. Where an account consists of divers, dealings of the parties at different periods of time, each dealing is a several transaction, and an action may be maintained on each. Thus, if a merchant has a store and black-smith shop, although the accounts are kept in the same book, he may bring an action upon each separately.

If there be but one dealing, as the sale of a horse at $75, the plaintiff cannot give a single justice jurisdiction, by entering a credit; but where there are separate and distinct dealings, the plaintiff may warrant upon such portion of the account as he may elect, and introduce any number of the dealings he thinks proper. In'the latter case the statute of limitations runs from the date of each dealing. See Green v. Caldcleugh, 1 Dev. and Bat. 320.

This doctrine does not apply to actions under the book-debt law, when the plaintiff sustains his action by his own oath; because the plaintiff has to swear that the account rendered contains a true account of all the dealings.

We hold that, the plaintiff in this ease had a right to this action, without reference to the credit entered on the account, and that the magistrate had jurisdiction.

Pee Cubiam. Judgment affirmed.