Case ID: ky_3/html/0310-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

HARLIN’S heirs vs. EASTLAND.
    
      May 5th.
    
    Non-refidents who profecute writs of error, rouft give fecu-rity for cofts.
    THIS was a writ of error, without a supersedeas, sued out to reverse a decree of the Lincoln circuit court, dismissing the bill of the plaintiff in error. No bond' was given to secure to Eastland, and the officers of court, the costs in the court below, nor in this court. An affidavit was filed, shewing that the plaintiffs in error, were not residents of this state ; and a motion made for a rule to shew cause why the suit should not be dismissed for . -want of security for costs.
    Hardin, for the defendant in error.
    — By an act of 1796, regulating civil proceedings , no non-resident is permitted to commence a suit in any court of this commonwealth, until he shall have given bond, to secure to the opposite party, and to the officers of the court, the costs they may become entitled to, by such suit.
    I am not aware of the question ever having been brought before this court, to determine whether this law did, or did not extend to writs of error, in this court* The few writs of error, without supersedeas, which have been prosecuted by litigants in this court, may account for it: for if a supersedeas be obtained, the bond given on that occasion will satisfy the defendant in this court*
    Writs of error in this court, will come within every reason which could have induced the legislature to pass that law ; and the words of it, are as broad as the evil was extensive. The statute uses the expression “ any A writ of error in this court, is certainly a suit or action. A suit or action, is a proceeding in a court of justice, which calls upon the defendant to appear and answer to, or plead to the complaint exhibited against. him. A writ of error will come within this definition. The process is similar to that in many original actions ; and the formal pleadings or answers in writing, of the defendant’s, is dispensed" with by a late law , but the same proceeding is had as hereto fore, except that the^ answer of the defendant in this court, is now, as it anciently was in original suits, ore tenus.
    
    The last section of this act, declares that it is to govern all the courts in the commonwealth ; and shows that the legislature intended that those provisions which are applicable to this court, should extend to it.
    Under a fair exposition of the act of assembly, I should contend that the court ought immediately to dismiss the suit ; because the plaintiff ought to have given security, before the writ of error was sued out; and that if security for costs was tendered before the motion for dis-mission was decided, it might be received ; but that no day ought to be given for entering security. But as the point is a new one, and has not been practised under heretofore, I will move for a rule to show cause why the suit should not be dismissed for want Of security for costs.
    Allen, contra.
    
    — It is too late to apply to this court to compel the plaintiff to give security for costs. The motion should have been made befow ; and not having been made there, it cannot be made here. This court, by the decision in the case of Smith vs. Carr 
      , just delivered in, has decided that it can only entertain jurisdiction to revise the decisions- of inferior courts ; not to determine questions which ought to have been made below.
    I do not admit that the act of assembly embraces courts of error. It speaks of suits, not of actions. If we resort to the origin of the word suit, it means followers, or witness  ; and the act of assembly must use the terra1 here, in relation to its original meaning, and will extend to all original actions in which witnesses may have to attend ; but cannot extend to actions where there is no suit or witnesses. Every suit may, therefore, be properly called an action ; but every action is not a suit.
    The act of assembly in question, has relation, throughout, to proceedings in original suits ; and the general expression at the latter part of the law, “ gll courts,” alludes to all courts of original jurisdiction ; for when that law passed, we had several courts of original jurisdiction.
    Another strong objection to the present application^ is, that the motion is made upon a matter of fact, out of the record. And how are the court to try the question of fact i
    
    
      
      Hardin and Clay, in reply.
    — —This motion lias nothing to do with the costs below. We admit that as to security for the costs below, the period has elapsed for applying lor it. But this question must be considered in the same light, as if the non-resident were the defendant below ; in which case, no security could have been required for costs below. •
    The rule asked for here, is only an incidental motion, growing out of a suit properly within the jurisdiction of the court, and could not have been made below, For, even if a bond to secure costs, had been given in the court below, the officers of this, court could not have the benefit of it; as the party would comply with the condition, by paying the defendant below, and the officers of that court, their costs.
    The distinction taken by Mr. Allen, between suits and actions, is unfounded 
      . And if we resort to common usage, we speak of actions at law, and suits in chancery ; a very different distinction from that taken on the other side. ,
    jje }s als0 mistaken in supposing the act regulating civil proceedings, to be confined to the courts of original jurisdiction ; for in it, are the provisions relative to jeofails 
       ; which were expressly intended to govern this court in its decisions.
    
      
      
        {a) A&s of 1796-7, p. 19, § 8, I Brad.-
    
    
      
      See afts of i799,ch»aS,v § 6, p. 58.
    
    
      
      *) Ame 395.
    
    
      
      ⅛) See ¡ EIack> Co“» a?5’
    
    
      
      Black ^ Com3 at — Jacob’s' Law Die. titles, i&ion, and fuit.
    
    
      
      ^ § 28, i PBracb »¾6.
    
   By the CouRT. — Let the rule be entered as moved for. 
      
       Security for eofts was afterwards given* and the rüle discharged, without opposition*