Case Name: Benjamin South vs. Stacy Decou and Joseph Cole, Executors of David Cole, deceased
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1830-11
Citations: 12 N.J.L. 125
Docket Number: 
Parties: *Benjamin South vs. Stacy Decou and Joseph Cole, Executors of David Cole, deceased.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 144–145

Head Matter:
*Benjamin South vs. Stacy Decou and Joseph Cole, Executors of David Cole, deceased.
Where several items are demanded in a state of demand, one of whicli is bad, and judgment is rendered for the whole amount, the judgment will be reversed. A state of demand containing an item like the following, viz: “ Also vendue account of principal and interest, $32,” is bad.
The defendants in certiorari, sued South before a justice of the peace, upon the following state of demand : “ The plaintiffs demand of defendant, for due bill given to deceased, bearing date April 6th, 1826, for thirteen dollars and thirteen cents, on which there is a balance of principal and interest of eight dollars and twenty-three cents. Also vendue account of principal and interest, thirty-two dollars and eighty-nine cents; making in the whole, forty-one dollars twelve cents, for which plaintiff prays judgment with costs of suit.” The justice rendered judgment against South, for forty-one dollars and twelve cents, besides costs; and South thereupon brought this certiorari.
Potts, for the plaintiff in certiorari,
assigned as a reason for the reversal of this judgment, that the state of demand contained no legal cause of action.

Opinion:
By the Court.
There are two charges in this state of demand. The first is for a due bill, and the second " a vendue account of principal and interest, thirty-two dollars." The last charge is bad, and as judgment was for the whole sum demanded, it must be reversed.
Judgment reversed.