Case Name: John and Another v. Clayton
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1820-07-15
Citations: 1 Blackf. 54
Docket Number: 
Parties: John and Another v. Clayton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Blackford
Volume: 1
Pages: 54–55

Head Matter:
John and Another v. Clayton.
In an action of assumpsit commenced the 22d of December, 1818, the promise, was alleged to have been made “some time about the 10th of December, 1817Held, that the declaration was sufficient, after verdict.
If an issue of fact be joined on a plea in abatement, and t he jury find for the plaintiff, the judgment should be peremptory; but ¡fit be only respondeat ous ter, that cannot be assigned for error by the defendant, as it is for his advantage.
ERROR to the Franklin Circuit Court. — Assumpsit by Clayton against John and JY. Noble for goods sold and delivered. The suit was commenced on the 22d of December, 1818, and the promises upon which the action was founded, were alleged in the declaration to have been made “some time about the 10th of December, 1817.” The defendants pleaded in abatement, that the promises, &c., if &c., were made jointly with Dunn, Ludlow, and L. Noble. The plaintiff replied, that the promises were made by the defendants alone; and issue was thereupon joined . — The jury found for the plaintiff, and the Court gave judgment of respondeat ouster. The defendants then pleaded the general issue. Verdict in favour of the plaintiff below for 85 dollars in damages; and judgment accordingly.
Assignment of errors, and joinder.
Where, as in the text, damages are the principal object of the action, if the jury find for the plaintiff, they must also assess the damages. Their omission to do'so cannot be supplied by a writ of inquiry. In this respect the law is the same, whether the issue be joined upon a plea in abatement, or in bar. The judgment is peremptory, quod recuperet; and if the jury, finding for the plaintiff, do not assess the.damages, a venire de novo must be awarded. Eichorn v. Le'maitre, 2 Wils. 367. — 2 Will. Saund. 211, note 3. — Clement v. Lewis, 3 Brod. and Bingh. 297.
If to a plea in abatement, or to a replication to such plea, there is a demurrer, and the plaintiff succeeds, the judgment is only interlocutory, quod respondeat ouster. Bowen v. Shapcott 4 East, 542.

Opinion:
Holman, J.
We must presume that the promise was proved as laid; and as it would be a very forced presumption that some time about the 10th of December, 1817, was after the 22d of December, 1818, we must consider that, in legal intendment, the promise was found by the jury to have been made previous ly to the commencement of the action; which finding would be sufficient to authorize the judgment.
Caswell, for the plaintiffs.
Test and Lane, for the defendant.
As to the judgment of respondeat ouster, the defendants below have no reason to complain. The irregularity operated to their advantage, and afforded them the privilege of pleading to the action, from which, by the rules of law, they were precluded; and having availed themselves of that privilege, they can have no pretext, on account of the irregular advantage they have thus obtained, to reverse the judgment. The principle is general, that a man cannot assign that for error, which he cannot show was to his disadvantage. 2 Bac. Abr. 490; and we see no reason to except this case out of the general rule.
Per Curiam.
The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent, damages and costs.