Bentley v. Wright

COLLIER, C.J. It is assigned for error: 1. That the amount in controversy, was beyond the jurisdiction of the Justice of the Peace, and his judgment therefore unauthorised. ■ 2. The Circuit Court erred in overruling the motion to reverse the judgment of the Justice and dismiss the appeal. 3. The first judgment should not have been awarded, nor the second rendered nunc pro tunc. 4.' The judgment is for too much damages. 5. The amended judgment was rendered without notice, and is informal, uncertain and insufficient. 1. & 2. It is perfectly clear, that the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace cannot be exercised in cases in which the amount in - controversy, exceeds fifty dollars. But the act of 1819, Aik. Dig. 261, enacts that, “ in cases of appeals from judgments of Justices of the Peace, the Court before whom such appeal shall be brought, shall proceed to try the same-according to the-justice and equity of the case, without regarding any defect in the warrant, capias, summons, or other proceedings of the Justice of the Peace, before whom-the case was tried.” This statute is very liberal in its terms; while it inhibits the appellate Court from repudiating the appeal for any defect in the [609] proceedings of the primary Court, it secures to the parties a trial, in accordance with “ justice and equityand if interpreted according to its obvious design and intention, will prevent the mistakes of Justices of the Peace from operating to the prejudice of litigants. Harrison v. Donelly, 5 Porter’s Rep. 213; McCrory v. Smith, 1 Ala. Rep. N. S. 157. That the judgment of the Justice of the Peace was for a sum beyond his jurisdiction, cannot be controverted, but the act cited, is very explicit to show, that the Circuit Court should not have disposed of the case according to the defendants motion. The defendants however, had a plain remedy; they should have pleaded in abatement, that the suit was instituted before a tx-ibunal having no jurisdiction of the case. This they failed to do, and thus impliedly admitted, that they had been brought before the proper Court. The question whether the want of jurisdiction does not ap- ‘ pear from the statement filed by the plaintiff in the Circuit Court, is not brought directly to our notice by the assignment of erroi’s; but it may be as well to remark that the plaintiff merely declares for fifty dollars, so that that Court could not know, but that the interest had been remitted even before suit brought. This the plaintiff migftt do, according to previous decisions made here. Nibbs, use, &c. v. Moody, 5 Stewart & Porter’s Rep. 198; King v. Dougherty, 2 Stewart Rep. 487. 3 & 4. From the cause of action disclosed in-the statement, the plaintiff was certainly entitled to judgment, for the defendants had withdrawn their plea, and the sum demanded was certain, being ascertained by a promissory note. If there was an order for the first judgment shown by the record, or some written memorandum of the Court, it was entirely proper to perfect the entry at the succeeding temí. This is a proceeding so well established in practice and approved by authority as not now to admit of controversy. If the judgment is rendered for a larger sum than was due for principal and interest, it can be here corrected, at the costs of the plaintiffs in error, but a calculation of interest will show that there is no material error in this respect. 5. It has been heretofore decided, that where there was a mistake in entering a judgment apparent from the record, it was competent to amend the judgment mine pro tunc, at the [610] next-.succeeding term, without .notice • to ■ the opposite-party. Fuqua and Hewitt v. Carriel and Martin, Minor’s Rep. 170; Clemens v. Judson and Banks, ibid, 395. In point of law a notice would avail nothing, since the motion, could no-t-.be gain-sayed. . • It is certainly true, that the Judgment is informal- and, unteeb,-nica!, but we thin* it-substantially sufficient.- The names of ajl the parties in the Circuit Court are stated as a part of the-entry, and the judgment is rendered: against the defendants and the surety in-the appeal bond. This was a .final disposition of the ease according to law, and the-judgment is affirmed.