Case Name: Pettis v. Dixon
Court: Connecticut Superior Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1786-11
Citations: 1 Kirby 179
Docket Number: 
Parties: Pettis v. Dixon.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 179–180

Head Matter:
Pettis v. Dixon.
Action of debt on a penal statute is a civil action, and the jury may bo returned to a second consideration.
AotioN of debt on the statute against importing goods into this state, without paying the duties.
After a verdict was found for the defendant, a question arose, whether the jury could be legally returned to a second consideration, the action being founded on a penal statute. But,

Opinion:
By the Court.
This is an action of debt, although the public is entitled to part of the recovery: It is treated wholly as a civil action, and came up here by appeal, which it could not, had it been a criminal prosecution; therefore, the jury may be returned to a second consideration.