Case Name: Thomas Page, Appellee, against Samuel Walker, Esquire, Appellant
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1801-06
Citations: 1 Tyl. 145
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas Page, Appellee, against Samuel Walker, Esquire, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tyler
Volume: 1
Pages: 145–146

Head Matter:
Thomas Page, Appellee, against Samuel Walker, Esquire, Appellant.
The Conrt will not award a re-pleader after a judgment upon a material issue.
THIS was an action of debt on a bond. Defendant pleaded nil debet. Verdict for the plaintiff, and judgment for the penal sum. Motion to chancer filed by the defendant last term. And now the defendant moves for leave to plead de novo, that he might plead a release in bar, which was tested anterior to his filing the plea nil debet.
John Cook, for the defendant.
In this action we were surprised into an immaterial issue. We had expected to have shewn our release under the plea nil debet, but the Court excluded it.
We learn from Bacon s Abridgment, vol. 5. p. 454. that the general rule is, that if there be an immaterial issue, and thereupon a verdict, upon which the Court cannot know for whom to give judgment, whether for the plaintiff or defendant, a repleader is regularly to be awarded; for such immaterial issue is not aided after verdict by 32 Henry VIII. c. 30. or any of the statutes of jeofail.
Woódbridge, Chief Judge. This does not touch the present case.
Cook. True; but the trial in this case has not touched the merits of the cause. This is a motion that' the Court will favour in order to do substantial justice. Burr. Rep. vol. 1. p. 292 to 301. Rex V. Roger Philips, Mayor of Caermarthen.
Daniel Chipman, e contra.
The authorities do not apply. The present case does not come within the rules of the Court, Here a motion to chancer after verdict and judgment has been filed, and a motion for repleader is beyond all rule. But not to insist on this, the repleader is always awarded from something intrinsic, the record (never extrinsic,) or when the parties join issue upon an immaterial fact, which cannot help the Court to found a judgment, but not because the party has mistaken his ground of defence. Parties may have several grounds of defence. Some may be preferable to others, and have their election. In this case the party had his election, and the issue has been decided against him upon a material fact.
Daniel Chipman, for plaintiff.
John Cook, for defendant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
From the statement of the defendant's counsel, this appeal's to be a hard case. But the Court cannot relieve. Here is a material issue joined, verdict, and judgment. The Court will not award a repleader after judgment.
Motion discharged, and cause continued by order of Court.
The defendant sought relief in the Court of Chancery, and obtained a decree containing a perpetual injunction upon this suit, February term, A. D. 1805.