Court Opinion

ID: 8503871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 01:25:14.676981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:50:47.979050
License: Public Domain

■, the court.
There are certain fads, in this case, out which there is no dispute. William Choate, a deputy sheriff, on Saturday, the nineteenth day of March, 1831, arrested McNiel and Carlton, by virtue of the writ mentioned in the complaint. Carlton was permitted to go at large, without keepers, but McNiel was put under the custody of James McGregor and Henry Chapin, who detained him as a prisoner, until Monday, the 21st March, 1831, On the last named day, McGregor made a propo*139sition to McNiel to settle, and offered to clear him for $25. This offer was accepted by McNiel and a settlement made, with him at least, for $25. W. Choate, the officer, was present, when this adjustment was made, and made a discharge of the action on Hie back of the writ. Thus far there is no dispute as to the facts.
The question then, is, was Carlton a party to tho settlement and bound by it ?
It appears, by the testimony of William Choate*? that Carlton, at the time of the settlement, said that ho had no doubt a trespass had been committed, but that he ought to pay nothing, because he was in the employment of McNiel. This is not, in any way, contracted, and it enables as to take a view of the case, which will reconcile all the testimony on both sides.
Carlton was, then, in McNiel’s employment, when they did the acts, for which the action was brought.— McNiel agreed to pay the damages and costs, and settle the action. The wrong had been done by his procurement, and it was proper that he should bear all the expenses that might follow it. He made the adjustment, and secured the payment of $17, by means of a pair of steers , and gave his note for $8, as principal, with ' surety. It is clear, from all the evident ■ ■ • *> made the settlement, and paid the d- , .
But William Choate and McG-rcg- _ ■; ; depositions, that Carlton, while the negc *» , tlement was pending, expressed a wish to ter adjusted. And there is not in the case, any testimony whatever that has any tendency to prove that he, in any way objected to the settlement — made any claim for costs, or refused to be considered as a party to the adjustment. Indeed it would have been strange if he would not assent to the settlement. For he could not even go to court, file a complaint for costs, and procure it to be allowed, without incurring expenses that would ex ceed in amount all he could thus obtain.
*140And what is there in the testimony that shows that he was not a party to the settlement ?
One circumstance, on which counsel rely, is, that he signed the note as surety. But, under the circumstances, this, so far from showing that he did not assent to the settlement, rather goes to prove that he not only assented, btit actually aided i-n bringing it about.
Much reliance is also placed, by counsel, on certain declarations of McGregor, made just after the settlement. Elizabeth McNiel, and Jane McNiel, say, that McGregor told them, at that time, that he was not employed by Carlton to settle, and had not settled for him. But these declarations of McGregor are not all inconsistent with the truth of the case, as it now appears. McNiel procured the settlement. It is not pretended that Carlton paid any thing, or said any thing more than that he wished to have the matter settled, or did any thing beyond signing the note as surety.
It appears that Carlton demanded a copy of the writ, at the time the settlement was effected. This looks, to be sure, as if he did not consider the matter at an end. But he gave no intimation that the business was not to be considered as closed with respect to himself. On the contrary his pretence was that he wanted the copy to vindicate his character.
But, whatever may have been his views and intentions, we are clear that he so conducted that Choate had a right to consider him as assenting to the settlement.— And, after what he did and said, this attempt to obtain* costs by a complaint, here, can hardly be viewed as consistent with good faith and fair dealing.

Costs refused,