Case Name: Smith against Goodrich
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1810-02
Citations: 5 Johns. 353
Docket Number: 
Parties: Smith against Goodrich.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 353–354

Head Matter:
Smith against Goodrich.
If parties appear before a justice by attorney, it is error, though it be by mutual consent, it being contrary to the express direction of the statute. If the plaintiff in error only appeared by attorney, he cannot allege' that for error.
IN error, on certiorari. Goodrich brought his ac- ° tion against Smith, before a justice, on a warranty to . - recover damages for some salt, purchased of Smith, which was alleged to be adulterated and bad. At the - trial of the cause, Goodrich appeared in proper person, and Smith by his attorney, who was admitted to defend the cause j but the justice, in his return to the certiorari, did not state the reason for admitting the defendant to appear by attorney.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Several points were made by the plaintiff in error j but it is sufficient to notice one only*. The Qourt have decided, again and again, that if the parties below appear by attorney, though it be by consent, it is error. The statute (10 sess. c. 10. § 10.) is peremptory, and cannot be eluded or set aside, by any consent or collusion between the parties. But if the plaintiff in error only appear by attorney, he shall not be allowed to take advantage of his own act, to defeat the recovery below. This would be against a well settled principle of law, as well as a flagrant injustice. The judgment below must be reversed.
Judgment reversed.
The same point arose in several other causes before the court, on certiorari, during this term, in which the same decision was given.