Case Name: Thomas against Weed
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1817-08
Citations: 14 Johns. 255
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas against Weed.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 255–255

Head Matter:
Thomas against Weed.
ALBANY,
August, 1817.
In an action of returning an %r' the act for debtst‘&c,(i.zvr. thepiainturi-not entitled to vnte~ wi °° the balance due on the execution, the remedy given ^¡^gVtíenawre of a penal-
ON certiorari to a justice’s court.' Weed brought an ac-lion of debt before the justice against Thomas, a constable, for not returning an execution, &c. The justice gave judgment for the plaintiff for the amount due on the execution, with interest. The only question arising on the return was, whether the interest J * - ° * was recoverable.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The remedy by action of debt for " the amount of the execution," given by the 13th section of the 25 dollar act, (1 N. R. L. 395.,) is in the nature of a penalty, and the measure of the penalty cannot be extended beyond the letter of the statute.
If the plaintiff below had pursued his common law remedy, by a special action on the case, for negligence, or by an action for money had and received, he would have been entitled to interest on the sum proved to have been received by the constable, or actually lost by his negligence. If the creditor, as in this case, chooses to avail himself of the statute remedy, so as to relieve himself from the necessity of proving actual loss, he must be satisfied with " the amount of the execution."
Judgment reversed.