Case Name: Livingston against The Executors of Livingston
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1808-05
Citations: 3 Johns. 254
Docket Number: 
Parties: Livingston against The Executors of Livingston.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 254–255

Head Matter:
Livingston against The Executors of Livingston.
NEW-YORK,
May, 1808.
Where there •was a special count* and several money counts in a declaration, and after interlocutory judgment for want of a plea, damages Were separately assessed on each count,and judgment was arrested on the first count, the inquisition on the other counts was set aside, and the defendant allowed to plead, upon terms.
THE declaration in this cause contained several counts. The first was a special count for a legacy, and the others were the usual money counts. The plaintiff entered an interlocutory judgment for want of a plea, and damages were separately assessed on each count. On the last day of the last term, a motion was made and argued in arrest of judgment, but remained undecided until this term, when judgment was arrested on the first count. (See ante, p. 189.)
Hoffman, for the defendants,
now moved to set aside the inquisition taken on all the other counts ; and for leave to plead to them. He read an affidavit, stating that the plaintiff had no other cause of action against the defendants, than what was stated in the first count, the money counts beingaddedas matter of course, and not because the plaintiff had distinct causes of action, and that he was not informed that damages were separately assessed on the several counts, until after the last term. He contended, on the ground of merits, and of surprise, and as this was a case of executors, one of whom was absent in Europe when the suit was commenced, and still is absent, that the in.quest ought to .be set aside.
E, Williams and J. Radcliff, contra.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The defendants may take their rule to set aside the inquest, on the following terms : to pay the costs, not to plead the statute of limitations, but issuably, and to take short notice of trial, and consent that the venue be changed into such county as the plaintiff may elect for the trial of the cause.
Rule granted.