Case Name: Johnson v. Cuddington and Others
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1871-05
Citations: 35 Ind. 43
Docket Number: 
Parties: Johnson v. Cuddington and Others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 35
Pages: 43–43

Head Matter:
Johnson v. Cuddington and Others.
Trespass.—Pleading.—In an action for trespass quare clausum fregit, where the only answer is a general denial, the Court has no authority to find a justification of the acts of trespass. That defense requires a special plea.
APPEAL from the Marion Circuit Court.
L. Barbour and C. P. Jacobs, for appellants.

Opinion:
Downey, C. J.
Action for trespass quare clausum fregit. Answer, first, general denial; second and third, justification. Demurrers sustained to the second and third paragraphs. Trial by the court. Special finding by request, in which the court found the acts of trespass, and the amount of the plaintiff's damages, but, going beyond anything in the issue, found that two of the defendants were supervisors of highways, acting under an order to open a highway, and that the other two were acting under their authority. Conclusion of law, that the defendants were not liable for the damages. Exception taken, and also a motion made by the plaintiff for judgment on the findings, overruled, and exception entered.
These rulings were wrong. The court had no authority to find a justification of the acts of trespass under the issue. 2 G. & H. 93, sec. 66; Wood v. Mansell, 3 Blackf. 125.
The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded, with directions to the circuit court to render judgment for the plaintiff for twenty-three dollars and seventy-five cents, the amount in the special finding, and costs.