Irons v. Hussey

Smith, J. This was an action of assumpsit commenced before a justice of the peace. On appeal, in the Circuit Court, the cause was submitted to the Court, without the intervention of a jury, and judgment was rendered for the defendant. By a bill of exceptions it appears that when the cause was heard, there were only two judges present, the president judge and one associate judge; and that, after hearing the evidence and the arguments of counsel, the president judge was of opinion that the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict, and the associate judge was of opinion the judgment should be for the defendant. There being this difference of opinion, the plaintiff moved the Court to set aside the submission of the cause, and direct a new trial, but the Court, being of opinion that a judgment for the defendant was the proper legal result of this division of the judges, overruled the plaintiff’s motion, and rendered judgment accordingly. The evidence is not set out in the record, and the only question before us is, whether, upon the disagreement of the judges, the defendant was entitled to a judgment, it being expressly stated that this was the sole ground upon which it was rendered. The statute provides that when the parties in any suit shall, by agreement, submit any matter to the determination of the Court, such Court may hear and determine the same, and give judgment therein, without the intervention of a jury. R. S. c. 40, s. 316, p. 731. When a cause is submitted to the Court under this statutory pro [159] vision, the finding of the Court takes the place of a verdict. Priest v. Martin, 4 Blackf. 311. In such a case as the present one, there being an equal division of the judges, there could be no finding by the Court, and, consequently, a judgment could not be rendered for either party. When a jury disagrees there can be no judgment, because the jury is unable to return a verdict. The verdict must be the verdict of the jury, which it is not if it is not agreed to by all the jurors. When an issue is submitted to the Court, there must, upon the same principle, be a finding by the Court in favor of one party or the other, which, it seems clear, there cannot be, if there are but two members of the Court, and they disagree as to such finding. There can be no finding by the Court unless it is agreed to by the judges, or, at least, a majority of them. Under such circumstances, the cause should be continued for a new trial. A. A. Hammond and H. O'Neal, for the plaintiif. C. C. Nave, for the defendant. Per Curiam. The judgment is reversed, with costs. Cause remanded, &c.