Starkey v. Waite

Ross, C. J. This is audita querela to have an execution set aside, issued on a judgment, rendered by this court, at its January Term, 1896, in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff. In that action, the defendant caused to be replevied, a horse, on the claim that it was exempt from [195] attachment, which the plaintiff, as deputy sheriff, had attached on a writ in favor of a creditor of the defendant. The replevin suit was tried in the county court, by the jury, who returned a verdict, “That the defendant is guilty in manner and form as the plaintiff in his declaration has alleged.” On this verdict, a general judgment was rendered by the county court, in favor of this defendant. In terms, the judgment did not mention damages, nor costs, nor did the verdict, on which it was founded. This plaintiff brought the case to this court on exceptions, which are immaterial to questions now raised. In this court, the judgment of the county court was affirmed. When the clerk of this and the county court came to tax the costs, he included this defendant’s costs not only in this court but in the county court, and included no damages, not even nominal damages. The plaintiff concedes that under the' decision in Bliss v. Little's Est., 64 Vt. 133, costs in this court were properly taxed in favor of the defendant, but contends, that, inasmuch as the jury returned no specific finding of damages, and the county cohrt, in its judgment, made no mention of damages nor costs, the costs in that court were illegally and wrongfully taxed. In Stevens v. Briggs, 14 Vt. 44, it is held that the recovery of costs by a plaintiff are consequent upon his recovery of debt or damages in the suit. Hence it is necessary to consider what was the legal effect of the verdict of the jury and a -general judgment of the county court thereon in favor of the defendant in the replevin suit. The statute has changed the pleadings in replevin from what they were at common law. Instead of non cepit or non detmet, and other pleas allowed or required by the common law, Y. S. 1471 provides that in this class of replevin “the general issue shall be joined on the plea of not guilty.” The plea puts in issue the plaintiff’s right to the possession of the property replevied, and the wrongful taking and detention thereof by the defendant. Hence the verdict of the jury determined that the plaintiff was entitled to the [196] possession of the horse replevied, and that the defendant wrongfully took and detained it from him. When such is the finding of the jury, V. S. 1481' is, “the plaintiff shall have judgment for his .damages caused thereby, and for his costs of suit.” If no damages are shown by the evidence on trial, inasmuch as the verdict of guilty establishes that the defendant has invaded the plaintiff’s right to the property replevied the law implies that the plaintiff is entitled to nominal damages. Paul v. Slason, 22 Vt. 231; Fairbanks v. Kittredge, 24 Vt. 9; Fullam v. Stearns, 30 Vt. 443; Graves v. Severens, 40 Vt. 640; Cole v. Drew, 44 Vt. 49; Stevens v. Briggs, 14 Vt. 44; Bemus v. Beekman, 3 Wend. 668; Cobbey on Replevin, §§ 1074 and 1075. The verdict of guilty conclusively established that the plaintiff invaded the defendant’s right to the horse replevied, by attaching, taking, and detaining it from the defendant’s possession. From the verdict the law gave the defendant nominal damages — no other damages being shown nor claimed in the trial before the jury — in the replevin suit. The general judgment, rendered thereon by the county court, and affirmed by this court, carried, if not in specific terms, by implication a judgment for nominal damages and costs agreeably to Y. S. 1481. That the clerk in filing the execution omitted the one cent, or nominal damages, furnishes the plaintiff no just ground of complaint. He cannot for such omission have the execution set aside and held void because he has not been wronged, nor injured thereby. This view, without considering the other questions discussed, is conclusive against the right of the plaintiff to recover in this suit. Judgment for the defendant to recover his costs.