Case Name: Stillson against Sandford
Court: New York Supreme Court of Judicature
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1805-08
Citations: 3 Cai. 174
Docket Number: 
Parties: Stillson against Sandford.
Judges: 
Reporter: Caines' Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 174–174

Head Matter:
Stillson against Sandford.
Tfto’ the sums in tile several counts before a justice exceed 25dols. yet if a® one coant be for more, and the damages be laid at only 25 dols. it is within the jurisdiction of l Oh court. If it appear on the whole of the record that the cause before a justice lias been fairly tried, the judgrbent will not be reversed for' want of joining in issue or any technical error in- the pleadings.
Shephard assigned as errors on certiorari, first, that ⅛ appeared on the face of the record, that the demand before the justice was beyond his jurisdiction. Secondly, that the cause was tried, though no issue appeared to have been joined.
On- &e first point he said, the several sums in the various counts amounted to more than SIS, and were for different matters ; this, though the declaration did conclude within the sum authorized by the £lO act, was, he urged, erroneous.
Per curiam. It has been decided otherwise in a case ⅛ Coleman, ✓
Shephard.
The plea, though beginning as a demurrer, was in substance a former recovery in bar, which the replication denies; but though there is no issue on the fact, the justice goes on to try.

Opinion:
Per curiam.
Let the judgment be affirmed, Whenever We can possibly intend from the record that the merits were fairly tried, we will not examine or test by technical rules the formality of the pleadings.