Kirksey v. Pryor

COLLIER, C. J. In an action against an officer for neglect of duty, on mesne process, the rule as to damages is, the amount of injury sustained, and not the amount of the debt. 9 Conn. Rep, 379; 5 Mart. Rep. N. S. 125; 5 Watts & Serg. Rep. 455. But in an action for any default or neglect of duty by the officer, which seems to have occasioned the loss of a debt, the judgment in the suit against the debtor is prima fade evidence of the measure of the injury which the plaintiff has sustained. Such evidence may, however, be controlled, and the officer in mitigation of damages may prove any facts which show that the creditor has suffered nothing by his default or neglect — as the inability of the debtor to pay, or fraud or collusion in obtaining the judgment. 2 Mass. Rep. 526; 10 Id, 470; 2 Greenl. Rep. 46; 1 Conn. R. 347; 5 N. Hamp. Rep. 438; 5 Har. & J. Rep. 485. Perhaps these principles are not controverted in the present case, but it is insisted that as the declaration alledges the indebtedness of the defendant in the attachment to have been evidenced by a promissory note, it was necessary for the plaintiff to have produced it on the trial of this cause. If the declaration had not gone farther, and stated, that in the suit on the note a judgment was recovered, we would be inclined to think that the argument was well founded, but the allegation as to the judgment being direct and special, it was quite enough to entitle the plaintiff to recover, to produce the 192 attachment and judgment. This is indicated by some of the cases cited, and not denied by any we have seen. What is said in the declaration as to the note, may be stricken out as superfluous, and a good cause of action still appear on the pleadings — being thus unnecessarily stated, it was not indispensable to prove it. The circuit court laid down the law in conformity to this view, and its judgment is therefore affirmed.