Case Name: BEATTY v. VAN NESS
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1812-12
Citations: 3 F. Cas. 9
Docket Number: 
Parties: BEATTY v. VAN NESS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 3
Pages: 9–10

Head Matter:
Case No. 1,198.
BEATTY v. VAN NESS.
[2 Cranch, C. C. 67.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Dec. Term, 1812.
Practice — Filing Plea or Limitations after Rule-Dat.
The court will permit the plea of limitations to be filed after the rule-day, upon an affidavit showing it to be a fair defence under the circumstances of the case.
[NOTE. Upon the trial of this cause, the jury found a verdict for defendant, and, on writ of error, the supreme court affirmed the judgment of the circuit court, treating the case upon its merits. Beatty v. Burnes, 8 Cranch, (12 U. S.) 98.]
At law. Assumpsit [by Beatty’s administrator against Yan Ness, administrator of Burnes] for money bad and received, brought under the act of Maryland of 1791, (chapter 45, § 5,) to try the title to some city lots claimed by plaintiff’s intestate.
The defendant, after the rule-day, moved to file the plea of limitations, upon his affidavit that he ordered the pleas to be filed by his attorney before the rule-day; that this attorney was absent attending the trial of Wilkinson; that Burnes had been in possession more than twenty years, &c.

Opinion:
THE COURT,
(nem. con.,) upon this affidavit, permitted the plea to be filed, considering it a fair defence under the circumstances.