McClure v. Hill

STATEMENT. Eakin, J. Cleared of immaterial matter, the record presents this case: Hill, on the .fifteenth of January, 1876, executed to McClure & Morris a bill of sale of a horse and mare to secure to them the payment, in five weeks, of any debt which Hill owed them. The consideration of the instrument is expressed at ninety-three dollars, which was evidently the debt intended. Upon default of payment of the entire amount they were empowered “ to take possession of said horse and mare as their own property, without any process of law.” The. debt was not paid in full. Something remained due at the end of five weeks. On the fifteenth of June, 1877, they filed a substantial Copy of the bill of sale with defendant, John F. Williams, a justice of the peace, with an affidavit to the effect that the original had been lost or destroyed, “and that said property has not been redeemed as therein provided,” and praying that the horse and mare be 'immediately turned over to McClure & Morris. Whereupon, said justice issued what purports to be an order of delivery of-that date, reciting that McClure & Morris were entitled to the property (describing it) now in possession of R. J. Hill, and ordering the constable, at once, to take them from his possession, turn them over to McClure & Morris and make return on the twenty-third of June. Defendant, George E. Williams, the constable, took this writ, found Hill plowing with the horse, took him by showing the order, and by Hill’s yielding thereto, and delivered it to McClure & Morris. l. Judges: foíthidroí fi°ial aots’ Complainant then brought this suit, in - the nature of trespass, against McClure, Morris, John P. and George E. 'Williams, charging that they forcibly and unlawfully took the horse, carried it away, and converted it; — alleging its value at $100. He further alleged, that thereby he.suffered great hardship and inconvenience, and was put to cost and expense in replacing the horse for his crop; and in efforts to recover him. He claimed $300 damages. Defendants answered in three separate paragraphs:' 1. Denying generally the tortious taking. 2. Justifying under the chattel mortgage. 3. Justifying under the proceedings before the justice. Upon trial, the jury found for plaintiff, and assessed his damages at $200, for which judgment was rendered. There was a proper motion for a new trial, and bill of exceptions. The evidence is, substantially, as above stated. The instructions will, so far as may be necessary, be noticed in the opinion. OPINION. The evidence does not sustain any idea of a conspiracy amongst defendants to- do an unlawful act. Prom all that appears, McClure & Morris (or McClure acting for both) may have simply intended to avail themselves of what they supposed to be a lawful right; and the justice may have supposed, as we must presume he did, that his prqeeedings were lawful. The complaint itself, alleging the value of the'only.property taken under the order, fixes it at $100, •and the verdict of the jury fixes it at $75. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction in replevin t,o the extent of $300 in value. The affidavit upon which he acted in issuing the order of delivery, fails to set forth, the value of the property, and there is nothing apparent in the proceedings before him to show that the horse and mare together were of a value within the limit of his jurisdiction. Nor is it shown by way of defense, or otherwise, in the case before us. Judges of inferior courts of limited jurisdiction are civilly responsible if they transcend it. Their acts are nullities, and-they become participants in a trespass. Otherwise, as to judges of courts of general jurisdiction. They are protected against civil suits for any act done in a judicial capacity; whilst with regard to inferior magistrates, the protection extends only to acts within their jurisdiction. See Yates v. Lansing, 5 John., 282, a very well considered opinion by Chief Justice Kent; also, Welch v. Loyd, 5 Ark., 367; Trammell v. The Town of Russellville, 34 Ark., 105; Piper v. Pearson, 2 Gray, 120. courtsfernot presumed. 2. Jurisdiction; fór^delivemus°trshow lionas1 to property, In case of an honest mistake of jurisdiction by the judge of an inferior court of limited powers, the defense can only go to the damages. He can not claim protection. He is chargeable with the duty of seeing that he has it, although, within it, the law enables him to act freely and fearlessly, as it does with regard to judges of superior courts of general jurisdiction in all cases. And jurisdiction of inferior courts can not be intended. ^ must be shown. (Cooley on Torts, 416, et seq.) There is n0 hardship in this. It is of the utmost consequence to public peace and private rights, that the inferior courts should not usurp jurisdiction in matters not intrusted to them, and an inferior judge may always be safe in solving any doubts against his power. The affidavit .filed in this ease is grossly deficient, in failing to set forth the value of the property, which was essential to show, if not confer, jurisdiction. It could not appear to the justice that the cause was one within his cognizance; nor is it shown by proof aliunde. He is jointly liable for any trespass committed. p'ASS.TEES' Officer 101e1se|;alpro" ——^ f00f®‘y5yf proo0ss; or a -J Dam-For taking &uie for. Nor is the constable protected by the order. First, because it is not in accordance with law, which requires the value of the property to be stated therein: a matter sufficient to put him on his guard where the power to issue depends upon the amount; and, second, because it gave him, even if valid, no power to act without first taking bond from the plaintiff, which he neglected. Gantt’s Digest, secs. 5085 to 5088. The taking by color of legal process, to which plaintiff5yielded, was, in fact, a taking by force, and a trespass. It is laudable in a citizen to bow to what he supposes, to be the mandates of the law, and he can lose no advantage thereby, against those who act under their color. The taking by force was not justified by the mortgage, The legal title was doubtless in McClure & Morris, with the right of possession, but they could only take it peaceably. They could not right themselves by their own strong hands; and, as above said, the taking by their agent, the constable, was equivalent to force. Considering all parties liable, the question arises of the measure of damages. They should be compensatory merely, unless the jury should have found them to result from malice, or conduct wantonly injurious. There was no proof upon which such finding could have been based; nor is there any reason to suppose the jury had it in view. They were, indeed, instructed (and so far properly) to find, by way of special damage, independently of the value -of the horse, only such as was actual. The rules for the measure of damages for the taking °f personal property, when not exemplary, have been formulated from cases where the property and rights of possession were in the plaintiff'. In such cases the true rule is the value of the property itself, and the direct damage inflicted by the taking. This rule was given to the jury, by the court, in this case, on the application of plaintiff, and against the objections of defendant. It is the true rule against a mere tortfeasor showing no interest in himself, whatever may be the interest of plaintiff. The question arises, does it apply where the plaintiff, seeking redress, has only an equity of redemption, and the legal title, as well as the right of possession, was, at the time of the taking, in the defendants? In determining questions of this nature, courts of law have resorted largely to equitable principles, to avoid circuity of action. See notes and cases cited in the 6th edition of Sedgwick on Meas, of Dam., p. 482, mar. The property was taken and disposed of, or at least is gone from the plaintiff, and if damages be now estimated with any reference to its value, the title will have passed free of other equities on plaintiff’s part, for a recovery on an account. How have the transactions affected the real 'rights of the parties ? Defendants had legal title and right of possession, but were not absolute owners. Notwithstanding default the plaintiff might have redeemed. By taking away the horse and converting it they cut off this right. They got more at the same time than their real interest, which was the amotmt of the debt. They are not liable for the whole value of the horse, but for the difference between that and their true debt, if the value be greatest. If the debt be greatest, the damage would be only nominal. There was some conflicting proof as to the amount of the debt. It should, by a proper instruction, havfe been left to the jury under the evidence to determine both the debt and the value of the horse; and if the latter were found greatest,to render a verdict for the difference; if less, no verdict for value, but nominal damages, for the tortious taking. 8. pArt-N^ir lia_ trapas/es other.a ° No other actual damages were proven as the direct consequence of the wrongful taking, but if there had been, a verdict would have been proper for them in addition. There was error in instructing the jury on the matter of damages, and error in their verdict which was not only for the full value of the horse, but for $125 damages sustained by no proper proof. The instructions of the defendant which were refused, were framed to make the impression upon the jury that the mortgage and default, and order of delivery were justifications of the taking. ' Although in their language they express correctly the law, that they under the circumstances had right of possession, yet as that did not authorize the trespass they were properly refused. The court also properly refused to instruct that if either defendant was not present at the time of the trespáss, and did not aid and abet the taking, he would not be liable. Morris, who seems to have been a partner, would be civilly liable for any act done by his co-partner in the course of the ‘ partnership business, or if not a partner, would be liable on his personal assent to the proceedings by participating in the fruits of the seizure with knowledge of the circumstances. The instruction would have been misleading if given. There are other points made, but it is thought they will all find solution in those already determined. The court erred in overruling the motion for a new trial, which should have been sustained on the ground of error in the instruction as to damages, and for excess of damages in the verdict. Reverse and remand with usual order.