Court Opinion

ID: 6998254
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:37:20.100331+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:50.727000
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Gary delivered the opinion of the Court. The plaintiff in error applies for a supersedeas on a record showing that this case was commenced by the defendant in error against the plaintiff in error before a justice of the peace, and tried there before a jury. The transcript of the justice recites the verdict and judgment thus: “We, the jury,find the issues for the defendant and upon the verdict to the court renders judgment in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff for costs of suit.” The word “to” italicised is impertinent and must be rejected as surplusage. From that judgment the defendant in error appealed to the Circuit Court, where the plaintiff in error entered his appearance, but seems to have neglected' the case, as a copple of years afterward the defendant in error took judgment against him after an ex parte trial. There is no bill of exceptions, and the point relied upon by the plaintiff in error is that the judgment merely for costs before the justice was not a final judgment, from which an appeal would lie to the Circuit Court, and therefore the Circuit Court 'had no jurisdiction. That in form a final judgment for a defendant should be that the plaintiff take nothing by his suit, and that the defendant go hence without day, is not to be denied. See Sprick v. Washington Co., 3 Nebraska, 253, and authority there cited. But the justice had no discretion to do anything else after that verdict than render final judgment for the defendant. Felter v. Mulliner, 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 181. And in this State, a judgment before a justice against the plaintiff for costs, without even saying in whose favor, is a final judgment. Zimmerman v. Zimmerman, 15 Ill. 85. The premise on which the plaintiff in error bases his conclusion failing, his conclusion fails. The supersedeas is denied.