Case ID: serg-rawl_10/html/0193-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[Sunburv,
    June 9, 1821.]
    KIMBLE against SAUNDERS.
    IN ERROR.
    It need not appeal- in the proceedings of arbitrators, that they met on the day appointed for their meeting.; It seems, the court would presume, where nothing appeared, to the ’eonfiary, that th'feir first meeting was on.the day appointed. On appeal by a defendant ff oni a justice of the peace, if the plaintiff recovers less in the Common Pleas, than he did before the justice, and the defendant has produced evidence which he did not give before the justice, the plaintiff will recover his costs before the justice, but each party must pay his own costs on the appeal.
    Error to theCourt of Common Pleas of Northumberland county. ■ - Debt by Abraham Saunders, the plaintiff below, against William.Kimble, before á justice of the .peace, for á sum under 100 dollars. The justice gave judgment.for the plaintiff for 17 dollars dnd 20 cents, and the defendant appealed. The plaintiff afterwards entered a rule of arbitration, and the arbitrators filed a report in favour of the plaintiff, dated the 20th May, 1813, for the sum of 8 dollars, 65 cents. The time that had been appointed for the meeting of the.arbitrators, was on the 3d May, 1813, but it did notappear by the record, what day they met;' no notice being taken by the arbitrators in their proceedings, of the time of meeting. ■ - It appeared by the record, that the defendant produced evidence before the arbitrators, which had-not ¡been given before the justice. The court below gave .judgment for. the plaintiff for the sum awarded and the costs accruing on the appeal.
    
      Bradford,’ for the plaintiff in error,
    now assigned the following errors. • ■ >■'
    
    1. That the • arbitrators did not meet on the 3d May, the day appointed for their meeting.' > -
    2. That the plaintiff should not have had judgment for the costs that had accrued on the appeal, and referred to the act of 20th March, 1810, sect. 4. Purd. Dig. 355, and to the arbitration act, sect. 14. Purd. Dig. 15.
    
      Greenough,- contra.
   Per Curiam.

There are two errors assigned in this case. 1st. That the arbitrators did not meet on the 3d May,- the day appointed for their first meeting. 2d. That the plaintiff should not have had judgment for costs accrued on the .appeal, because he recovered less in the Common Pleas, than before the justice. As to. the first error. It does not appear whether the arbitrators met on the 3d May, or not, nor is it necessary that it should appear. The arbitrators have dated the award the 20th May, without taking.any notice of the times of meeting. That is sufficient, and this court will not presume, for the purpose of destroying the award, that there was no meeting on the 3d May. We should rather be inclined to the presumption, (nothing appearing to the contrary,) that the first meeting was at the time appointed.

2. It appears by the record, that the defendant produced evidence in the Common Pleas, which was not given before the justice. Therefore he was not entitled to costs. But inasmuch as the defendant in some measure succeeded in his appeal, by reducing the sum which the plaintiff recovered before the justice, it is the opinion of the court, that the'plaintiff was not entitled to the costs on the appeal, though he had a right to costs while the action was depending before the justice. The act on which this case depends^ (20th March, 1810,) does not expressly provide for it, but the construction which we have given to the act appears most reasonable, and most equitable. The plaintiff recovers costs before the justice, and each party pays his own costs on the appeal. The judgment therefore is to be reversed so far as respects the costs awarded to the plaintiff on the appeal, and affirmed for the residue.

Judgment reversed so far as respects'the costs'on the appeal, and affirmed for the residue.