Case Name: Olivier, Curator, &c. v. Cannon
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1841-01
Citations: 17 La. 474
Docket Number: 
Parties: Olivier, Curator, &c. v. Cannon.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 655–656

Head Matter:
Olivier, Curator, &c. v. Cannon.
In actions of tort in which from the nature of the demand, damages are to he assessed, a jurymnst he summoned to find the same. The court alone cannot assess damages in such cases. — 6 E, 2T8; 3 A. 69; 5 E. 141.
Appear from the parish court for the parish and city of New Orleans.
This is an action to recover an old slave, horse and dray, valued in the inventory at §831, and damages for the tortious taking and illegal detention of the same. The plaintiff alleges the defendant took said property and detains it without any reason or title whatever, which belongs to the estate he administers. He prays judgment, restoring the possession of the property, and $500 in damages; and that in the mean time the slave, horse and dray be sequestered.
There was a judgment by default, made final, restoring the possession, and allowing $25 per month for the time of the slave from the 6th May, 1839, until delivery. Judgment signed June 8th, 1839. The defendant appealed.
Grcmdmont, for the plaintiff,
urged the affirmance of the judgment with costs and damages.
Eggleston, for the appellant,
assigned as error that damages were assessed without the intervention of a jury, and for this reason alone judgment must be reversed. Gode of Practice, art. 313.
2. Damages could only be given from the date of citation on the 8th May, and ceased to run from the time pf rendering judgment. 2 La. Eep. 404; 1 Mart. N. S. 574; 1 Gallison, 315.
3. A judgment cannot be rendered for any matter posterior to its rendition. 5 La. Eep. 225.
4. The judgment is unconstitutional for not assigning reasons, and referring to the law.

Opinion:
Martin, J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
The defendant is appellant from a judgment by default, on a charge [475] of his having tortiously taken and detained a slave, horse and dray, belonging to the plaintiff. He assigns as error apparent on the face of the record, that the damages claimed were assessed by the court without the intervention of a jury.
It appears to us that this asignment of error must prevail. The action is instituted for a tort, and the Code of Practice requires, " that whenever from the nature of the demand, damages wre to Toe assessed, the court will direct a jury to be summoned to find the same, in the same manner as if the defendant had answered." Art. 313.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the parish court be annulled, avoided and reversed, so far as relates to the question of damages; and that the case be remanded for further proceedings according to law: but in all other respects affirmed; — the plaintiff and appellee paying the costs of the appeal.