Court Opinion

ID: 6570814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:28:27.062839+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:53.809870
License: Public Domain

The Chief Justice

delivered the unanimous opinion of the Court, in effect as follows :
The decision in this case will virtually determine # J whether the Justice had jurisdiction in this cause. For *31if the plaintiff below can support a'declaration in debt, for a less sum than that which is contained in the recognizance, on an implied covenant in the condition of the recognizance, the action will come within the jurisdiction of a Justice, otherwise not.
If the plaintiff goes for damages, they are,in this case, to he ascertained only hy assessment.
Rule in debt, where the sum is uncertain.
Declaration in debt, on the condition cannot, in this case he maae good hy averment.
It is said that the conusee is not obliged to go for the penalty, but may go upon a covenant implied in the condition ; and, that in debt, “Id certum eft quod cerium reddi potest,” that is certain, which is reducible to certainty. That the costs are legal costs, and are capable of ascertainment by a known standard, the fee bill. But this is not so. The defendant on the plaintiff’s failing to prosecute, is entitled to he paid for his time spent, and money necessarily expended in preparing for his defence. The damages are wholly at large, and are to be ascertained by assessment, (if he goes for damages only) as in an action for an escape on mesne process. Debt may, indeed, be brought on an instrument which does not, in itself, ascertain the sum due ; hut, in that case, there must be, in the instrument, a reference to some other instrument, where the sum is ascertained,.to some known rule of computation, or to an assessment made by some -third person or persons ; so, that when the instrument referred to is produced, the rule applied, or the assessment shewn, the quantum of the demand will appear the same to every one. We do not say no action can be brought for a sum less than the penalty ; but we are all clearly of opinion that a declaration in debt, on the condition, cannot be made goo'd by any reference or averment in this case. Therefore let there he
Judgment for the defendant Clark.