Riley v. Howell

Waxy, J. Appellee moves to dismiss this appeal on tho following grounds: First — Tho amount in controversy being less than five hundred dollars, e.raliisire of ■interest, the district court, under article eighty-five of tho constitution, was without jurisdiction, and -therefore this court is without jurisdiction. Second — The appeal was not taken within one year from tho time the judgment was rendered, as required. C. P. 593. Third — The appeal bond has not been executed in the name of the clerk, as required by article 575, C. P. [330] Tho jurisdiction of this court as fixed in article seventy-four of the constitution- extends to appeals in all civil cases “ where the matter in dispute shall exceed five hundred dollars.” * * *■ And it has long been held that the principal and interest added at the time of judicial demand constitute the matter in dispute. 22 An. 111, 125; 12 An. 87; 10 An. 170; 7 An. 109; 2 An. 793, 911; 5 R. 90; 1 R. 25; 12 L. 156; 1 N. S. 138. In this ease tho principal is §497 25, and interest accrued at the time of judicial demand exceeded two hundred dollars. This court therefore has jurisdiction, although the'court a qua was without jurisdiction ratione materias, because in the unambiguous language of article eighty-five of the constitution “ the district court shall have original jurisdiction in all civil cases where tho amount in dispute exceeds five hundred dollars, exclusive of interest.” And here the amount exclusive of interest is less than five hundred dollars, although with interest added at the time of judicial demand it exceeded seven hundred dollars. As the appeal was taken within twelve months from the service of notice of the judgment confirming a default against the defendant it was in time for a devolutive appeal, ancl there is no force in this objection. 25 An. 212; 22 An. 90. The bond was given in favor of “ John S. Lanier, his heirs and assigns, etc,” and it appears from the certificate to the transcript as well as from the documents filed and tho orders of court throughout the record, that John S. Lanier was the clerk of the court. The devolutive-appeal bond for fifty dollars was in favor of a person who was clerk of tho court, although mention of tho fact was not made in the bond, probably on account of a clerical error in drawing the instrument. Wo think the bond sufficiently complies with article 575, C. P., and that it is good. On tho merits, we find that the court below was without jurisdiction ratione mater ice, the amount in dispute, exclusive of interest, being less than five hundred dollars. Article eighty-five of tho constitution; 13 a-deaux vs. Blake, 24 An. 184; 22 An. 459. Consequently, tho judgment herein is an absolute nullity. . It is therefore ordered that tho judgment appealed from be annulled, and that the suit be dismissed at the costs of the appellee in both courts.