Court Opinion

ID: 6412559
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:53:47.288337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:25.217894
License: Public Domain

Dewey, J.
Had the declaration in the present case been confined to the fifth count, claiming damages merely for a tort for breaking and entering upon the plaintiff’s close, and concluding “ to the damage of the plaintiff (as he says) in the sum of one hundred dollars,” the police court would have had no jurisdiction of the case, nor would the superior court have taken any on the case being brought there by an appeal. McQuade v. O’Neil, 15 Gray, 52.
But the present case differs very materially from that above stated. The declaration contains four counts for personal torts, as to which a justice of the peace has jurisdiction to the amount of one hundred dollars, and the ad damnum was very properly stated as of that amount, although by so doing the justice would not have his judicial power enlarged in reference to the counts for trespass upon the land of the plaintiff.
Under the somewhat peculiar form of the declaration in this action, adding separately to the various counts the ad damnum *120clause, it might be held that the justice had jurisdiction as to the fifth count, the damage being alleged in “ the sum of five dollars.” But however that may be, the insertion of that count does not deprive the justice of the jurisdiction of the action, or require the dismissal of the action, as the plaintiff may have leave to amend by striking out his fifth count. Pollard v. Barnes, 2 Cush. 191. That count may be waived on the trial in the superior court, and the case proceed with reference to the others, upon which only, as it was stated in the argument of the case, the plaintiff seeks to recover damages. The order of the superior court dismissing the action is reversed, and the case remitted for further proceedings.
Judgment reversed, and case remitted.