Case Name: Armstrong et al. v. Caesar
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1880-11
Citations: 72 Ind. 280
Docket Number: No. 7625
Parties: Armstrong et al. v. Caesar.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 72
Pages: 280–281

Head Matter:
No. 7625.
Armstrong et al. v. Caesar.
Statute of Limitations. —Account. — Set-Off. —Payment.—Pleading.— A plea of payment or set-off is npt subject to tbe statute of limitations.
From the Lawrence Circuit Court.
N. Groohe, G. W. Friedlty and G. Putnam, for appellants.
F. Wilson and M. T. Dunn, for appellee.

Opinion:
Woods, J.
— Suit on an account. The appellant Felix answered , claiming a set-off of an account against the appellee, which had been assigned to said appellant by Ari Armstrong, who ivas made a party to answer as to his interest. Reply, general denial, and six years' statute of limitations.
The court gave the following instruction:
"5. So, in this case, you will determine how much, if any, of defendant's claim accrued within six years prior to September 22d, 1877, when it was set up in this case as a set-off. That is, you may go back six years from the time the account was offered as a set-off here, and any item that the defendant has established to your satisfaction within this six years, he is entitled to a finding for," etc.
This is palpably erroneous. By section 214 of the code, "A party to any action may plead or reply a set-off or payment to the amount of any cause of action or defence, notwithstanding such set-off or payment is barred by the statute." We can not declare the rule more plainly or more authoritatively.
Judgment reversed, with costs.