Case ID: pa_23/html/0141-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Knox, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Luzerne County versus Day.
    1. A suit will not lie against a county for services rendered by a physician in making a post mortem examination at the request of the justice before whom the inquisition as to the cause of the death was held, until demand made upon the county commissioners and their neglect or refusal to draw an order on the county treasurer for payment, though the inquisition has been approved of by the Court.
    2. The fact that the plaintiff who made the examination was a member of the inquest did not debar him from recovering for his services.
    3. In case of demand and refusal an action for compensation for the service rendered could be maintained before a justice of the peace.
    Error to the Common Pleas of Luzerne county.
    
    This was an appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace, in an action by J. L. Day v. The County of Luzerne; which was brought to recover for service rendered as a surgeon in a post mortem examination held before an inquest convened by a justice of the peace. The proceeding had been approved of by the Court. The plea was non assumpsit.
    
    On the trial the Court charged, first, That the plaintiff might recover without proof of a previous demand upon the county commissioners. That the inquisition and its confirmation by the Court entitled him to recover on proof of performance of the service. Secondly, The Court charged that the plaintiff might recover though he was a member of the inquest convened to examine into the cause of the death.
    Yerdict was rendered for the plaintiff for $18
    The portions of the charge above referred to, were assigned for error; and thirdly, that the Court had not jurisdiction of the suit, —“ that the cause of action primarily depended upon the approbation of a Court of record.”
    By Act of 27th May, 1841 (B. Purdon 498), it is provided that “in all cases where by law the coroner of any county is required to hold an inquest over a dead body, it shall be lawful for a justice of the peace of the proper county to hold the same, where there is no lawfully appointed coroner, or he is absent from the county, unable to attend, or his office is held more than ten miles distant from the place where the death occurred or the body found; and said justice shall have like power to select, summon, and compel the attendance of jurors and witnesses, and shall receive like fees and tax like costs; and the inquest shall have like force and effect in law. Provided, that no fees or costs shall be allowed or paid said justice or inquest, until the proceedings are submitted to the Court of Quarter Sessions of the proper county, and said Court shall adjudge that there was reasonable cause for holding said inquest, and approve of the same.”
    
      H. Wright, with whom was O. B. Wright, for the plaintiff in error.
    The demand could be paid only by an order on the county treasurer, and the policy of the law required a demand to be made for an order before suit brought.
    There would be no right to demand until approbation and adjudication of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and the claim would then be demandable by virtue of the adjudication of the Court; and a justice had not jurisdiction: 7 Watts 314.
    
      Stout, for the defendant in error.
    The bringing of an action was a sufficient request: 1 Ch. Pl. 288; 2 Stark. Ev. 95; 1 Saunders Pl. & Ev. 211; 2 Brod. & Bing. 23; Stark. Ev. 92. The commissioners should have taken notice of the' approbation by the Court of the inquisition. It was said that demand was made upon the commissioners before suit, but no proof of it was given on the trial.
    2. It was testified that the post mortem - examination was made at the request of the justice; — the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for his service: 3 Barr 465, Allegheny County v. Watts.
    3. By the Act of May, 1841, the Court is not to approve of the hill of costs ; but whether there was reasonable cause for holding the inquest. The coroner has power to bind the county for such service: 3 Barr 465; and so has the justice of the peace who convenes the inquest.
    Justices of the peace have jurisdiction of causes of action arising from contract express or implied: B. Purdon 480. A justice has jurisdiction of a suit by an officer to recover his fees below $Í00, if suit be not brought till the determination of the suit in which the fees accrued.
   The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Knox, J.

The financial interests of a county are under the supervision and control of the county commissioners, who are required to pay all legal demands against the county by warrants drawn by them upon the county treasurer. This is the only mode of payment known to the law, and the claims are of such a multifarious character that it is impossible for the commissioners to know of their existence without presentation.

When a legal claim is presented for payment, it is the duty of the commissioners to draw their warrant for its payment. If this is refused, or if the order is not paid when demanded, a suit will lie against the county; but until demand is made, neither the commissioners nor the county are in default, and without it a suit cannot be maintained.

The interests of the public would be greatly prejudiced by permitting suits to be brought before demand made; but a contrary rule injures no one, as it is never expected that the warrants will be drawn until called for. The Court of Common Pleas held that a previous demand was unnecessary. This was erroneous. The other errors are not sustained.

Judgment reversed and venire de novo awarded.