Case Name: Cupples, Guardian of Allen, v.-
Court: North Carolina Superior Court
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1797-03
Citations: 1 Hayw. 525
Docket Number: 
Parties: Cupples, Guardian of Allen, v.-.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 525–526

Head Matter:
Cupples, Guardian of Allen, v.-.
In a caveat, a verdict was found against the Plaintiff, which was confirmed in the County Court, before which time however, tne Plaintiff had obtained a grant from the State for the land ; and now in the Superior Court, it was held, that the grant could not be impeached at law, but as the Defendant appeared to have had the justice of the case on his side, he shall have the costs of the caveat.
This was a caveat. Upon the trial, the jury found for the party opposed to Mr. Cupples, which verdict was confirmed by the County Court $ before which time, Mr. Cupples, for his ward, had obtained a .grant from the Secretary's office$ and the verdict and proceedings of the County Court were moved into this court.

Opinion:
Per curiam
There have been so many derisions that a grant, although irregularly obtained, is valid in law, that we think obrselves bound by them at present — although we cannot subscribe to the reasoning of them, of course it is useless now to consider whether these objections to the verdict are valid or not. However, with respect to costs, it is necessary to say something — there can be no doubt, but in point of Equity, Mr. Cupples should pay them — there has been the verdict of a jury against him. and that verdict confirmed by the County Court; upon argument he has caused an abatement of the suit, like that partial abatement which sometimes happens in case of the death, destruction, or ceasing of the principal thing in dispute, so that the court cannot give judgment for it — as where an action is brought against tenant per autre vie, and cestui qui vie dies, de-mandant, may proceed for damages for detention ; in ejectment for lands leased, if the lease expires before a decision, Plaintiff may proceed for damages and costs.— Here, before the suit is decided, one of the parties puts an end to it by removing out of the court's power the thing in controversy. The court cannot give judgment upon the merits of the dispute, or for the principal j but the party may proceed for the accessary. There was judgment for costs.
Note. — As to the grant's being unimpeached at law, see Reynolds v. Flinn, and the note thereto, ante 106.