Case ID: wis_4/html/0214-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Cole, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN T. ASHER, Plaintiff in Error, vs. BENJAMIN HILL, Defendant in Error.
    ERROR TO THE OIROUIT COURT OP BAH AX COUNTT.
    Previous to the passage of chapter, 34, of Session Laws of 1855, no appeal lay from the judgment of a justice of the peace directly to the Circuit Court, and an appeal so taken conferred no jurisdiction upon such court.
    The facts in this case are fully set forth in the opinion of tb© court.
    
      Smith & Keyes, for the plaintiff in error.
   By the Court,

Cole, J.

The plaintiff in error, on the 19th day of August, 1854, recovered against the defendant in error, in an action on the case, a judgment for fifty dollars and costs of suit, before Henry Waters, a justice of the peace of Bad Ax county. Hill prosecuted his appeal to the Circuit Court of that county. At the September term of that court, Asher, th© appellee, moved to dismiss the appeal for this, among other reasons set forth in his motion, that the appeal was improperly brought directly to the Circuit, and not to the County Court> which motion was overruled. Asher by his counsel excepted to this ruling of the court. The parties then went to trial, a jury being waived, and the court found no cause oí action, and gave judgment against Asher for $29.67, costs of suit. To reverse this judgment of the Circuit Court, Asher has sued out his writ of error from this court.

The Circuit Court erred in-overruling the motion to dismiss the appeal. The appeal should have been taken to the County Court instead of the Circuit Court, as there was no law at that time authorizing an appeal from the justice’s court in civil causes, directly to the latter court. The Circuit Court, consequently, could not acquire jurisdiction of the cause, and for this reason,, the judgment of that court must be reversed, with costs.