Case Name: ZIMMER VS. THOMPSON ET AL.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1839-01
Citations: 13 La. 22
Docket Number: 
Parties: ZIMMER VS. THOMPSON ET AL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 22–24

Head Matter:
ZIMMER VS. THOMPSON ET AL.
APPEAL FROM THE PARISH COURT, FOR THE PARISH AIÍD CITY OF NEW-ORLEANS.
Where a warrantor is called in by the defendant, and the sheriff’s return shows he has not been found, it‘is the duty of the party calling him, to use all diligence to have him cited; or a curator ad hoc appointed to defend him, if he resides out of the state.
This is a redhibitory action. The plaintiff alleges he became the purchaser of a slave named Betsey, at auction, for the sum of one thousand and seventy dollars, which belonged to, and was put up to be sold at public auction by the defendants, and warranted to be a good house servant, cook, washer and ironer, and fully guaranteed against all redhibitory vices. He further shows, that said slave did not possess the qualifications, as a good servant, with which she was sold; and was consumptive and in declining health at the time of the sale, to the knowledge of- the defendants, and which they concealed. That he has tendered said slave to the defendants, and demanded the price 1o be paid back, and the sale cancelled, but that they hare refused to comply. Wherefore he prays judgment, requiring the defendants to take back the slave, return him the price, and have the sale cancelled.
The defendants pleaded a general denial; and further averred that they purchased this slave with others, from one Taylor, residing in Tennessee, at the relative price of one thousand dollars, whom they pray leave to call in warrauty, and to have judgment over against him in warranty in case of recovery by the plaintiff.
The sheriff returned, that the warrantor could not be found in his parish.
The cause was placed on the trial docket. On the day it was called the defendant’s counsel objected to go to trial, because the case was not properly at issue, the warrantor not having answered; and the call in warranty was not served on any person appointed to represent him. The objection was overruled, and the defendant’s counsel took his bill of exceptions.
The plaintiff made out his case and had judgment, from which the defendant’s appealed.
Rousseau, for the plaintiff.
Roselius, for the defendants and appellants.

Opinion:
Martin, 3.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff seeks the rescission of a sale of a slave, on the ground that she has been sold as a good house servant, plain cook, washer and ironer, and is unable to cook, wash, or iron ; and labored besides at the time of the sale, and still labors under a redhibitory disease. The general issue was pleaded, there was judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendants appealed.
Our attention is first drawn to a bill of exceptions, taken to the opinion of the court, ordering the trial to proceed, notwithstanding defendant's allegation, that the cause had been irregularly set down for trial, before her vendor, whom she had prayed leave to call in warranty had been cited.
Where a war-rantor is called in by the defendant and the sheriff's return shows he has not been found, it is the duty of the -party calling him. to use all diligence to have him cited, or a curator ad hoc appointed to defend him, if he resides out of tiie state.
It does not appear to us the court erred. The sheriff returned, that the warrantor could not be found in his parish, and the defendant suffered more than a month to elapse without taking out an alias citation, or causing a curator to be appointed to the warrantor, who resides out of the state, to the knowledge of the defendant. A warrantor being cited by the defendant, for the benefit of the latter, the plaintiff is under no obligation to take any steps to have the citation served or a curator appointed; nor to wait an unreasonable time for this being done by the defendant.
On the merits, the plaintiff fully proved his case.
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the Parish Court be affirmed, with costs.