Case Name: Thomas C. Bedford v. Lewis N. Shelton
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1866-01
Citations: 18 La. Ann. 40
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas C. Bedford v. Lewis N. Shelton.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 40–40

Head Matter:
Thomas C. Bedford v. Lewis N. Shelton.
If one, against whom there was a cause of action, die, leaving one heir only, the suit shall be carried on against such heir, as it would have been against the deceased.
If the suit had already been brought against the deceased, and he had not answered, it shall not bo interrupted, but shall be continued against the heir, by a mere citation or notice served on him to that effect, within the delay for original citations, according as the distance may be from his domicile to the court where the action has been brought.
APPEAL from the Fourth District Court of New Orleans,
Price, J. W. iS. Stansbury, for plaintiff. Wm. H. Hunt, for defendant. A. Loihrop, for James R. Shelton, warrantor.

Opinion:
Hvman, C. J.
Plaintiff brought suit to rescind the sale of a slave for redhibitory vices, and to recover the principal for the same, with damages.
Defendant, Lewis N. Shelton, called in warranty James R. Shelton, his warrantor.
The Judge rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff, against John C. Barrelli, as the universal legatee of Lewis N. Shelton, and in favor of Barrelli against James R. Shelton.
Barrelli has appealed.
This suit has to be remanded to make proper parties thereto.
Previous to the trial, plaintiff suggesting to the Court that Lewis N. Shelton had died, and that Barrelli was the universal legatee of the deceased, obtained an order of Court to make him, Barrelli, a party to the suit.
No notice of the suit, or of this order, was served on Barrelli. He filed no answer. His first appearance was on a motion asking permission to appeal from the judgment.
The mode provided by law to make an heir a party to a suit has not been pursued.
The notice required by Article 120 of the Code of Practice should have been served on him.
Before such notice is given, or before he appears, he is not a party.
Judgment of the District Court is reversed and annulled, and the case remanded to the lower Court, to be proceeded in according to law, plaintiff to pay cost of suit.