Case Name: Jasper Koons vs. John Dyer
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1841-07
Citations: 1 Morris 93
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jasper Koons vs. John Dyer.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Iowa
Volume: 1
Pages: 93–94

Head Matter:
Jasper Koons vs. John Dyer.
Error to Louisa.
The District Courts of this territory, have jurisdiction of cases where the amount in controversy is less than fifty dollars.
Action, assumpsit. The plaintiff claimed by his declaration $146, but failing to prove one of the items, amounting to $100, defendant moved for a non-suit, on the ground that the amount to be recovered being less that $50, the Disrtict Court had no jurisdiction of the matter. This motion being sustained by the court, the plaintiff excepted and brought the cuase up by writ of error.
Thomas, for plaintiff in error.
Whicheb, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
By the Court,
Mason, Chief Justice.
We think the District Court erred in granting the nonsuit. Although justices of the peace have jurisdiction of suits for less that fifty dollars, we know of no law which deprives the District Courts of the jurisdiction of that class of cases. However desirable some restriction of this kind might be, the courts cannot fix one. The District Court is a court of general jurisdiction. To remove any class of cases out of such jurisdiction requires legislative action. Something more too, than merely conferring jurisdiction upon another court. As the law now stands the District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with justices of the peace, for all sums of fifty dollars and under and exclusive jurisdiction for all sums over that amount. The nonsuit granted in this case, will therefore be set aside and a writ of procedendo awarded to the District Court.