Case Name: Charles Lincoln, by his guardian John Hogan, v. William B. Flint
Court: Vermont Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Vermont
Decision Date: 1846-01
Citations: 18 Vt. 247
Docket Number: 
Parties: Charles Lincoln, by his guardian John Hogan, v. William B. Flint.
Judges: 
Reporter: Vermont Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 247–252

Head Matter:
Charles Lincoln, by his guardian John Hogan, v. William B. Flint.
A judgment rendered by a justice of the peace against an insane person, who had a guardian, but whose guardian is not notified of the suit, and who has no guardian appointed for him by the court, will be vacated upon audito.’. querela.
Audita Querela. It was alleged in the complaint, that the plaintiff, Lincoln, was an insane person, under guardianship, and that, while he was in this condition, judgment was rendered against him by a justice of the peace, in favor of the defendant, without any notice of the suit being given to the guardian of Lincoln, and without any guardian having been appointed for him by the court, and that Lincoln had been committed to prison by virtue of the execution which issued on the judgment, and that he was still in confinement. To this complaint the defendant demurred. The county court, — Williams, Ch. J., presiding, — adjudged the complaint insufficient; to which decision the plaintiff excepted.
E. N. Briggs for defendant.
No provision is made by statute for notice of a suit against an insane person to be given to the guardian. In suits upon contract, where application has been made to discharge the person, on the ground of insanity, upon common bail, the court have refused to do so. Nutt v. Verney, 4 T. R. 121. Kernott et al. v. Norman, 2 T. R. 390. Infants cannot be held to bail. It is not necessary, that it should appear, that a person, who is under guardianship, defended the suit by guardian. A person non compos may appear by attorney. Faulkner v. McClure, 18 Johns. 134. Webster v. W'oodward, 15 Johns. 504. So, though such person may have a guardian appointed, he is still liable to be sued in a civil action and to be committed on execution. Ex parte Leighton, 14 Mass. 207. In Beverly’s Case it was held, that a person non compos must appear by guardian, if within age, but by attorney, if of full age. 2 Saund. R. 333. In the case of infants there is a general inability to act. In this case a special regulation is made by statute; and a distinctionis made in the early cases between infants and other persons under guardianship. In a case like this we claim, that the appropriate and only remedy is by writ of error. Chase v. Scott, 14 Vt.78. It has been decided in Judd v. Downing et al., Brayt. 27, that audita querela would lie to set aside a judgment rendered by a justice of the peace against an infant; but this case cannot be considered as an authority.
C. L. Williams for plaintiff.
1. A writ of audita querela will lie to set aside a judgment of a justice against an infant, who had no guardian notified, nor appointed by the court. Judd v. Downing et al., Brayt 27. Bailey v. Ilall, Franklin Co., Jan. 1839. Chase v. Scott, 14 Vt. 79. The insane person labors under the same disabilities, and has the same need of a guardian, with the infant; and they are treated alike in the statutes of this state. Rev. St. c. 65, §§ 4, 5, 8, 16, 30. Thompson v. Leach, 3 Mod. 310. Seaver v. Phelps, 11 Pick. 306. Fleta, lib. 1, c.'ll, no. 10, cited in 3 Mod. 310.
2. Aside from this similarity, we contend, as res integra, that the guardian of an insane person ought to be notified of a suit against his ward, or a guardian be appointed to defend for him. The interest and safety of the ward require it; the only difference between his case and that of an infant being, that the incompetency in the infant is often fictitious, but is always real in the insane person. Their incompetency is plainly set forth by Williams, Ch. J., in Hunt v. Lee et al., 10 Vt. 304. The rights and liabilities and duties of the guardian entitle him to receive notice. The statute evidently contemplates, that the guardian should be notified and attend, or a guardian be appointed by the court. Rev. St. c. 65, § 30; c. 40, § 11; c. 63, §29; c. 53, § 12. And see Collard v. Crane, Brayt. 18 ; Mansfield v. Mansfield, 13 Mass. 412 ; Mason v. Mason, 19 Pick. 506; Mitchell v. Kingsman, 5 Pick. 431. Wherever the relation of guardian and ward was known, the guardian might defend for the ward; and in the extension of the relation the rights and remedies are necessarily extended ; what in England was the right of the infant is here equally the right of the insane ward; the rights of the guardians known to the English law are the rights of the guardians known to our law. Collamer, J., in Field et ux. v. Torrey, 7 Vt. 388.
3. If the guardian should be notified, the proper and only remedy, in a case like this, is by audita querela. A writ of error will not lie; for the judgment complained of was rendered by a justice of the peace. Rev. St. c. 26, § 68. The same reasons apply, as in the case of an infant, that is, the want of a more appropriate remedy. And this is one of those cases, in which relief has always been granted, in this State, by audita querela, the judgment having been rendered, without the party having his day in court. Suttons v. Tyrrell, 10 Vt. 89. Marvin v. Wilkins, 1 Aik. 107. Dodge v. Hubhell, 1 Vt. 491.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Bennett, J.
No man should be bound by a judgment rendered against him; when he has had no day in court; and if a judgment be so rendered, the audita querela is an appropriate remedy to set it aside. In accordance with this principle it has long been held in this state, that a minor, who has had a judgment rendered against him by a justice of the peace, without a guardian being notified of the suit, may be relieved upon audita querela. Though this may not be exactly in conformity to the common law, yet, as under our law it would be difficult to devise a remedy in such case, if the one by audita querela was denied, we are not dissatisfied with the views of our courts, in considering such a case as one in which the minor has had no day in court. If the judgment could have been set aside upon a writ of certiorari, or reversed upon a writ of error, doubtless a different course of decisions would have obtained. We are now called upon to extend the same principle to the case before us.
The situation of infants and persons of insane mind is parallel in law, and in the reason of things, in many respects. The contracts of either are not binding, and for the same reason ; and both may alike avoid them by plea. Neither has sufficient discretion to manage the ordinary business transactions of life, and much less to conduct a suit at law. The various provisions of our statutes require notice to be given, in proceedings affecting the interests of insane persons, to their guardians, as in the case of minors. I see no reason, which can be urged, why a judgment before a justice of the peace should in any case be set aside upon an audita querela, which may not with equal force apply to the present case. Indeed, it may be pre-eminently said of an insane person, that he has had no day in court.
The judgment of the county court must be reversed, and the judgment of the justice and the execution, which issued thereon, be set aside.
The plaintiff being satisfied with nominal damages, judgment was entered up in this court for one cent damages and costs.