Case Name: WILLIAMS against COOK
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1819
Citations: 1 Brayt. 112
Docket Number: No. 11
Parties: WILLIAMS against COOK.
Judges: 
Reporter: Brayton
Volume: 1
Pages: 112–113

Head Matter:
No. 11.
WILLIAMS against COOK.
Caledonia,
1819.
WHERE a causéis referred and the defendant dies before any award is made, his ad-' mmistrator may proceed with the reference.
THIS cause, at a former term of the Court, had been referred, before any proceedings were had under the rule the said Cook died, after his death an administrator being appointed, took o.ut the rule and proceeded to obtain a report of the ref- éreés ; the plaintiff attended at the trial before the referees ; the referees made a report in favor ,of the defendant. At this term the administrator duly entered and moved that the report of (the referees, be accepted, and judgment rendered thereon.
The plaintiff excepted to the report for the following reasons :
1. It is nota report between the parties of record, atthe time of making and.ensealing the same, by the referees, there being then no legal defendant.
2. The administrator was not authorised to take out the said • rule, assemble the referees, and cause the parties to be notified.
3. At the time of taking out said rule, and of the hearing before the referees, there was no legal defendant in said cause.
Contra. It, was contended that the referees were bound to take notice of the Statute, and of the right of the administrator under it, to prosecute and defend.
2. .That the plaintiff by appearing before the referees, consented to their proceedings, and must be bound by their report.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The administrator had a right to take out the rule and proceed with the reference.
Let the report be accepted, and Judgment rendered thereon.'.