Case Name: CALDWELL against FRENCH
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1809-11
Citations: 3 N.J.L. 614
Docket Number: 
Parties: CALDWELL against FRENCH.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 198–198

Head Matter:
CALDWELL against FRENCH.
ON CERTIORARI.
The state of demand filed with the justice, was for a running account, in all, amounting to $160, on which no credit was given. But the justice set out in his record, that the plaintiff filed with him his declaration, demanding one hundred dollars on balance of book account.
It was contended on the part of the defendant in this court, who was the plaintiff below, that this was regular, and the jurisdiction of the justice not exceeded.

Opinion:
By the Court.
The credit ought to appear on the face of the account delivered the justice. This not having been done, we must consider the sum in controversy as exceeding the jurisdiction of the justice. The copy of account, or state of demand, required by law to be delivered the justice, forms [*] the ground work of the action; and. constitutes, in courts for the trial of small causes, the declai'ation.
Judgment reversed.