Case Name: ANGELICA T. RICE, Appellant, v. PATRICK LEONARD, and others, Respondents
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1855
Citations: 5 Cal. 61
Docket Number: 
Parties: ANGELICA T. RICE, Appellant, v. PATRICK LEONARD, and others, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 61–61

Head Matter:
ANGELICA T. RICE, Appellant, v. PATRICK LEONARD, and others, Respondents.
Costs, by way of indemnity, ought not to be taxed in case of a nonsuit.
Where an action has been commenced against several defendants, and there has been a judgment in their favor, they are not all entitled to recover separate costs to the amount allowed by the Act, but can only recover jointly, as though there had been but one defendant.
Appeal from the Fourth Judicial District, San Francisco Comity,
W. H. Rhodes, for Appellant.
H. S. Love, for Respondents.

Opinion:
Murray, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court.
Heydenfeldt, J., concurred.
Costs, by way of indemnity, ought not to be taxed in case of a non-suit. The statute looks to an actual determination of the cause upon its merits.
So, where an action has been commenced against several defendants, and there has been a judgment in their favor, they are not all entitled to recover separate costs to the amounts allowed by the Act, but can only recover jointly, as though there had been but one defendant.
The judgment of the Court below is reversed, with directions to re-tax the costs, in conformity with this opinion.