Sherwood v. Hammond

Dewey, J. Assumpsit by Hammond against Sherwood. Suit commenced in the White Circuit Court in February, 1837. Plea, the general issue. Judgment for the plaintiff. On the trial, the plaintiff proved the items of his demand against the defendant as contained in a bill of particulars. The defendant then offered to prove that in March, 1837, he sued the plaintiff before a justice of the peace on two promissory notes, and that on the trial of that action, the plaintiff in this suit—the defendant in that—gave in evidence to the jury, as a set-off, the same matters contained in the bill of particulars; that the jury found against him, and that the justice rendered judgment accordingly; that Hammond appealed to the White Circuit Court, where the cause was then pending and undetermined. This evidence was objected to, and rejected by the Court. The defendant excepted. The rejection of this testimony raises the only point in the cause. We think the decision of the Circuit Court was correct. By the appeal from the justice’s judgment, both actions were pending in the Circuit Court at the same time. This the elder, and the appeal the younger. Neither was decided. Hammond, by attempting to set off his account against the demand of Sherwood before the justice, became a quasi plaintiff; and we must view the question in the same light, as if he had commenced two actions in the Circuit Court for the same cause. The pendency of that which was first commenced might have been pleaded in abatement of the other; but not e converso. Renner v. Marshall, 1 Wheat. 215. This, however, is not an attempt to abate either of the actions, but to give in evidence, under the general issue, the pendency of and [505] proceedings in the younger, in bar of the elder action. This is clearly inadmissible. The pendency of even a prior suit cannot be set up in defence of another for the same cause: it can only be adduced in evidence under a plea in abatement; 1 Chitt. Pl. 7 Am. from 6 Lond. ed. 488; nor can it operate in mitigation of damages. I. Naylor, for the appellant. A. S. White and R. A. Lockwood, for the appellee. Per Curiam. The judgment is affirmed-with 5 per cent. damages and costs. To be certified, &c.