Case Name: Rosenstein and others vs. Sammons, sheriff, &c
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1841-01
Citations: 1 Hill & Den. 59
Docket Number: 
Parties: Rosenstein and others vs. Sammons, sheriff, &c.
Judges: 
Reporter: Hill's Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 59–60

Head Matter:
Rosenstein and others vs. Sammons, sheriff, &c.
Held, that a suit may be maintained by the sheriff upon a bail bond taken by him pursuant to the revised statutes, on an arrest, and nominal damages, at least, recovered, even though special bail in the original action was put in before the sheriff sued; the defendant being in default for not appearing according to the condition of the bond, and the sheriff having been subjected to the costs of an attachment for not bringing in the body: and this, without the sheriff having actually paid the costs, or put in bail in the original suit, or been subjected to any further liability.
Error from the Montgomery common pleas. The action below was debt on a bail bond given to the plaintiff below, sheriff, &c. upon the arrest of Rosenstein in 'virtue of a capias ad respondendum issued out of said court, returnable in September term, 1839. The bond was in the form required by the revised statutes. Rosenstein did not appear in the original action within the time required by the bond; but in December term after, he caused his. appearance to be entered, and notice thereof given. Before this was done, however, proceedings had been taken against the sheriff for not bringing in the body, and an attachment awarded, the costs upon which he had promised to pay. He had not put in special bail, nor actually paid any thing in the original suit.; nor had any proceedings been taken to subject him to liability, beyond those above mentioned. This suit was not commenced until after Rosenstein had put in special bail, &c. These facts all appearing before the plaintiff below rested his case, the defendants below moved for a nonsuit, on the-grounds—1. That the action would not lie after an appearance in the original suit; and 2. That the plaintiff below had not shown himself actually damnified by the payment of any thing in that suit. The court overruled the motion, to which the defendants below excepted; and a verdict passed against them for $500 debt, and damages $11,46, being the amount of the costs for obtaining the attachment. After judgment, the defendants- below sued out a writ of error.
N. Hill, jun. for the plaintiffs in error, relied principally upon Matthison v. Forbus, &c. (19 John. R. 292.)
J. A. Spencer, contra.

Opinion:
By the Court, Bronson, J.
The case of Matthison v. For-bus, &c. (19 John. R. 292,) is not applicable to cases arising since 1830. (2 R. S. 349, § 16.) The defendant, in the original action not only neglected to appear, by putting in bail within the proper time, but the-sheriff was ruled and an attachment against, him had been ordered, before bail was put in; the costs of which proceeding the sheriff had become'liable for and had promised to pay. It is impossible to deny that there had been a breach.of the condition of the bond, for which the sheriff was entitled to recover nominal damages, at least; and that is all that was involved in denying the motion for a nonsuit. There is no exception upon any other point.
Judgment affirmed.