Hartridge v. McDaniel

By the Court. Lumpkin, J. delivering the opinion. [1.] Before the Jury is authorized to assess damages, they, must be satisfied of two things, namely: that the appeal was frivolous, and intended for delay only. This is the language of the law. (Cobb, 495.) Six months ago we had two cases returned to this Court, at this place, upon the very ground upon which this appeal was entered; that is, that the process was attested in the name of but one only of the five Justices of the Inferior Court. Then, for the first time, an authoritative interpretation was put upon the Statute. And we did not hesitate to certify that in our opinion the writ of error was not prosecuted for delay only. We must not stultify ourselves, which we should do, were we to reverse the judgment of the Circuit Court. And it will not do to prescribe a rigid and arbitrary rule which would deter parties from litigating their rights in Courts of Justice. Since the organization of this tribunal, I recollect but one case only where we have refused to certify that [400] the appeal was not, in our opinion, intended for delay. And yet, liow many judgments have been reversed. We appeal to the bar, if they have not been over-ruled om points in which they entertained the greatest confidence, and! sustained on grounds which they scarcely considered worth, arguing. Tot homines quot sententice: So many men so-many opinions. A' distinguished citizen of this State was saved, by the decision of this Court, from ruin upon a point bathe record, against the insertion of which he remonstrated with his Counsel as ridiculous, he being himself a lawyer of eminence; and the judgment below was affirmed against him. upon every other. Interest is ordinarily compensation enough for money. If' a creditor take from his debtor more than lawful interest, he-can be compelled to refund usury, thus voluntarily paid.. The damages allowed by the Statute are in the nature of a: penalty. Hence, the Jury must be satisfied that there is an-intention to delay the creditor frivolously. If there be good, ground for the appeal, no damages can be recovered, notwithstanding the intention was to delay the debt. So, on the other hand, although the cause of appeal be frivolous, still,, if the animus — the intention to delay — be wanting, damages-cannot be found. True, the Jury may infer the intention, from want of good cause. By striking out the defendant’s plea or pleas, and thusexcluding his testimony, the case often comes very naked before th'e Jury. And yet, the defendant may have had entire confidence in the defences which he set up. Counsel depict in fervid terms the mischiefs which they imagine will follow, if parties are allowed to shield themselves from damages under the advice of unprincipled or unskilful Attorneys. This will rarely, if ever, occur. The Legislature have cast a foul stigma upon the profession by disqualifying them as witnesses. Let us not further degrade ourselves. No opinion can be sustained, based upon the hypothesis of Counsel, namely: the want of skill or integrity at the bar. [401] [2.] It is further argued, that the evidence of Thomas H. Dawson was inadmissible, there being no plea to authorize it. [8.] But the objection was, to what' Counsel supposed to be a fatal defect in the process. It need not be pleaded. If' good, it might be taken at any time. It was sufficient, not-only to arrest the judgment, but to set it aside afterwards.