Court Opinion

ID: 6408862
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:51:04.194989+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:18.311698
License: Public Domain

Shaw, C. J.
The single question in this case is, whether un der an agreement of arbitrament at common law, not entered into before a magistrate, pursuant to the Rev. Sts. c. 114, the arbitrator has authority, without some provision to that effect in the instrument of submission, to award costs of arbitration. There are conflicting authorities; and if the question were one of practical importance, it would be useful to go into a full review of them. By the common law of England, we think it clearly settled, that arbitrators have not that power.
Under a rule of court, the matter is regulated by the rule, founded as here, on the consent of parties. So all matters in difference may include costs of a cause pending. But the question is, of a submission in pais when there is no cause pending.
At one time it was considered that an authority to award on the subject of costs did not include costs of arbitration, but only costs of court. Bradley v. Tunstow, 1 Bos. & Pul, 34. Afterwards it was held to include costs of reference, Wood v. O'Kelly, 9 East, 436.
But the question is, when no authority is given in regard *245to costs, and when no cause is pending, as to the costs of arbitration. Instead of citing the authorities, we will refer to the two most recent digests of good reputation. 2 Petersd. Ab. 254. 1 Steph. Nisi Prius, 148. We think the law in Massachusetts, in this respect, has followed the law of Eng- .and. Peters v. Peirce, 8 Mass. 398.
We are aware that a different rule has prevailed in several of the other States. Perhaps it arose at first from not considering the distinction between costs of the cause pending, which are matters in difference, and costs of the arbitration. The case of Roe v. Doe, 2 T. R. 644, is sometimes cited to support the general proposition that an arbitrator may award costs without any express authority. And the marginal note, and perhaps the report itself, being very brief, countenances that proposition. But this case is commonly cited to mark the distinction between the authority of the arbitrator over the costs of the cause and the costs of the arbitration. Candler v. Fuller, Willes, 62, and the note, on page 64, of Mr. Durnford, one of the reporters of Roe v. Doe, citing that case. This was the authority relied on in the early case, in New York, of Strang v. Ferguson, 14 Johns. 161. The decision in Alling v. Munson, 2 Connect. 691, was not by a unanimous opinion, and was founded mainly on the ancient usage in the State of Connecticut. Such also is the usage in New Hampshire. Spofford v. Spofford, 10 N. Hamp. 254.
Notwithstanding the weight of these authorities, this court are disposed to abide by the rule, as they believe it has been judicially settled in this Commonwealth, that without special authority, arbitrators under an agreement in pais, where no cause is pending, have no power to award costs of arbitration. The court in Maine had this question before them, in 1830, and they adhered to the decision made here in Peters v. Peirce, while Maine was a part of this State. Gordon v. Tucker, 6 Greenl. 247.
Indeed, the learned counsel for the plaintiff seemed to consider it as settled, by the judicial decisions, that such was the law in this State, but supposed it altered, in this respect, bf *246the revised statutes, and he relied upon two provisions. Firsts Rev. Sts. c. 114, § 12. But that provision is limited to powers of arbitrators, under a rule entered into before a justice of the peace, and does not affect the’ present question. Second, the Rev. Sts. c. 121, § 21, in a saving clause, in a chapter regulating costs in law and equity, provide that nothing contained therein shall take away or control the power of arbitrators or referees, appointed by rule of court or otherwise, from making such award concerning costs, as justice and equity shall require. This grants no new power to arbitrators, but was intended simply to prevent the other provisions in that chapter from restraining arbitrators and referees from awarding costs in cases where, by law or the terms of the submission, they had the power, under other provisions of the common law, or any statute. .We think neither of these provisions had the effect to alter the law on this subject.

New trial granted.