Case Name: West v. Bagby
Court: Supreme Court of Texas
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1854
Citations: 12 Tex. 34
Docket Number: 
Parties: West v. Bagby.
Judges: 
Reporter: Texas Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 34–35

Head Matter:
West v. Bagby.
A final judgment is the award of the judicial consequences which the law attaches to the facts, and determines the subject matter of controversy between the parties.
A judgment “ that the cause be dismissed, but because the jury fee hath not been “ paid, the same is entered as a non-suit: it is therefore considered by the Court “ that the defendant have and recover of the plaintiff all costs, &e.—is such a “ final judgment as may be taken to the Supreme Court for revision, by writ of “ error or appeal.”
Error from Red River. There was a motion to dismiss the writ of error.
Morrill & Dickson, for plaintiff in error.
John T. Mills, for defendant in error, cited the following authorities in support of the motion to dismiss, Hanks v. Thompson, 5 Tex. R. 6 ; Id. 441; 6 Id. 322.

Opinion:
Hemphill, Ch. J.
In this case, there is a motion to dismiss the writ, for the want of a final judgment. The entry is, that the cause be dismissed, but because the jury fee hath not been paid, the same is entered as a non-suit. It is therefore 'considered by the Court that the defendant have and recover of the plaintiff all costs, &c.
This is rather a meagre entry of a final judgment; but under the rules laid down in Hanks v. Thompson, (5 Tex. R. 6,) it is sufficient. A final judgment is there defined to be, the award of the judicial consequences which the law attaches to the facts, and determines the subject matter of controversy between the parties; and it stated that an order or decree, that the plaintiff should be non-suit in the case, or that the plaintiff's suit be dismissed for the want of prosecution, is such a final order or decree as is subject to revision in the Supreme Court. Tested by these principles, the order, that the suit be dismissed, has such finality as would authorize its consideration in this Court; and the decree that this dismissal be entered as a non-suit, is equivalent to a decree that the plaintiff be non-suited in the case; and is, therefore, such a final judgment as the statute requires before submission of the cause to the Supreme Court. There is no error in the judgment, and it is ordered that the same be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.