Paxton v. Cobb

Porter, J., delivered the opinion of the court. The plaintiff states that he heretofore recovered a judgment against one of the defendants, Mary Cobb, and a certain Henry Roach, by which they were decreed to deliver up possession of a slave to him: That he had demanded the property, and cannot get it: that he has issued a writ of possession which has been unavailing. He further states, that he believes the defendant has removed the slave out of the jurisdiction of the court and the reach of its process, to defeat the judgment. He prays for judgmnet against the defendants for the value of the property, and for the use of it since the time it should have been delivered up. The defendant denies the allegations, except so far as they [139] relate to the radgment, and that judgment she avers to be null , J , , and void as to her, because it was not clothed with the forms required by the constitution to render it binding: and, second, because it was obtained through the fraudulent practices of the attorney of the plaintiff. She reconvenes the plaintiff and prays that the judgment rendered against her be declared a nullity, and that she recover the sum of three hundred dollars, the damage sustained by her in consequence of the fraud practised by the petitioner. tainedby thefrau-duient representa-tiff’s attorney is V0l<J" the1* defendant is d°stinctTctiont0but Sity ^heneva** it is sought to he ’ The cause was submitted to a jury, who found for the defendant. The plaintiff appealed. It was proved that after the suit was commenced, the attorney for the petitioner told the defendant, that if she would renounce all claim to the slave in question, he would dismiss the suit as against her. That she then said, that the slave was not in her possession, and that she had no right to her. Notwithstanding the promise, he proceeded and obtained judgment against her. Such conduct was fraudulent on the part of the attorney, and brings the case within the provisions of the Code of Practice m relation to the nullity of judgments. There are two objections in the case which require observations from the court. The first is, whether the nullity can ¡be affected by way of exception or defence, or can be pleaded in reconvention? and, the second, if it can, is the client responsible for a fraud or deceit of this kind; on the part of his attorney? The Code of Practice does not speak of the nullity of judgments being offered as an exception, and directs that suit shall be brought to set them aside. But we believe it is a general rule in jurisprudence, that wherever a man may sue, ho can except, when the matter which he might have annulled in an action, is presented as the basis of a demand against him. The proposition seems to us as true in law as in morals, that what you have a right to attack and destroy, [140] you may resist when it is used as a means of injuring you. Were it otherwise, and the defendant was driven to a distinct action, then the spectacle might be presented, of the same court trying two causes- between the same parties in immediate succession, in which the judgment would be contradictory, and contrary to each other. In the one, the plaintiff would recover in virtue of his judgment. In the other, that judgment would be declared null and of no effect. The authority of the attorney is not restricted to the mere prosecution of the suit, hut extends to ev-ry thing necessary for the protection of the interests intrusted to his care On the other ground, the want of authority in the attorney to dismiss the action against one of the defendants, or to enter into an agreement to do so. It was urged, that the authority of the attorney extended to commence suit and carry it on to final judgment. That he was empowered to do eveiy thing necessaiy to accomplish these objects, but that when he engaged not to prosecute the suit, he was acting beyond the scope of his duties, and his acts were not binding on his clients. This argument is ingenious enough, but we think it is defective in limiting, too strictly, the power of the attorney. His authority, in our judgment, extends to every thing necessary to the protection and promotion of the interests intrusted to his care, so far as they are tobe affected by the proceedings in the court where he represents his client. In order that his serviees may be useful, more must be entrusted to him than the mere prosecution of the suit. If he whs restricted, as is contended, then were his client not present in court, he might be compelled to sacrifice the interests of his principal, by putting his case into court on defective evidence — he could not take a nonsuit. In a case where there were several defendents, and he discovered, in the progress of the cause, that it was important to the interests of the client to use one of them as a witness, he could not obtain his evidence by dismissing the action against him, and proceeding against the others. We cannot distinguish such cases as these from that now before us. It is frequently as necessary for the interests and safety of the [141] client, that the attorney should have the power to recede as . r . to advance — to dismiss, as to prosecute. The necessity ot doing one or the other frequently arises in a moment when consultation is impossible, hence the necessity of vesting discretion in counsel. What were the motives that induced the attorney to make the agreement in question with the defendant, and what tempted him to break it, we do not know, and probably never will, as the death of the agent-prevents him giving any explanation of his conduct. But be the mo- .. , , . .... . , . , . tives what they may, it was within the scope ox his authority to dismiss the action, and the plaintiff is bound by his acts. Ifhe ^;gm;ag the authority, and the plaintiff is hound by his acts. It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed with costs.