Bacon v. Crandon

The plaintiff alleged that this judgment was erroneous, because the appointment of the referee was revoked by the death of Thomas before the rule of submission came into the hands of the referee. But it was resolved that the administrator took up the case where the deceased left it; that the reference with the consent of the parties, was a substitute for [80] a trial by jury, and it became the act of the court ; and there fore that the authority of the referee was not revoked by the death of Thomas : and further, that the right of revocation, if any had existed, had been waived by the parties. Eddy, for the plaintiff in error. C. J. Holmes, for the defendant in error. It was also assigned for error, that judgment was rendered that the defendant recover his costs, whereas judgment should have been rendered that the plaintiff recover his damage above mentioned and costs of suit. But per Curiam. This objection proceeds on the supposition that a referee has no authority to award damages to one party and costs to the other. But this ground cannot be supported. As a general rule the prevailing party recovers costs; but there may be circumstances which would render this inequitable. A plain tiff may sue on two demands, one of which is uncontested, and the whole subject matter upon which costs have arisen, may be determined in favor of the defendant, and in such a case the referee may award that the plaintiff, although he recovers damages, shall nevertheless pay costs. See Nelson v. Andrews, 2 Mass. R. 164. It was further assigned for error, that costs were taxed for the travel and attendance of Thomas after his death and before the appointment or appearance of his administrator; but it was considered that the administrator took up the case by relation, from the death of Thomas, and that these costs were rightly taxed. It was also objected, that costs were taxed for the travel and attendance of witnesses, of whose travel and attendance no certificate had been filed ; and this was held by the Court to be erroneous. The judgment, therefore, was reversed in part, namely, so far as respects the costs taxed for witnesses who did not certify their travel and attendance, and was affirmed as to the residue.