LEGAL DOCUMENT

Case: Frank L. Sheldon vs. Lyman Upham, Deputy Sheriff
Citation: 14 R.I. 493
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1884-04-05
Docket Number: 
Pages: 493–493
Volume: 14
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports

Parties: Frank L. Sheldon vs. Lyman Upham, Deputy Sheriff.

Frank L. Sheldon vs. Lyman Upham, Deputy Sheriff.
In case against a sheriff for an escape the measure of damages is the damages actually sustained by the plaintiff: the amount of the judgment in the action wherein the escape took place being on\y primé facie evidence, open to rebuttal by the sheriff.
Exceptions to the Court of Common Pleas.
Charles E. Baldwin, for plaintiff.
Simon S. Lapham, for defendant.
April 5, 1884.

Dttbeee, C. J.
In an action on the case against a sheriff for permitting the escape of a party arrested on original writ or mesne process, the measure of damages is the damages actually sustained, and the amount of the judgment recovered in the action in which the escape is permitted is only primé facie evidence, open to rebuttal by counter evidence adduced by the sheriff. Patterson v. Westervelt, 11 Wend. 543; Brooks v. Hoyt, 6 Pick. 468; Eaton v. Ogier, 2 Me. 46; State Treasurer v. Weeks, 4 Vt. 215; Danforth v. Pratt, 9 Cush. 318; Arden v. Goodacre, 11 C. B. 371; Shuler v. Garrison, 5 W. & Serg. 455; Smith v. Hart, 1 Brev. 146; Spafford v. Goodell, 3 McLean, 97; Blodgett v. The Town of Brattleboro, 30 Vt. 579; Hootman v. Shriner, 15 Ohio St. 43.
Exceptions sustained.