Atlanta v. Shippen

• Decision Date: 14 November 1906
• Citation: 126 Ga. 784,55 S.E. 1031
• Parties: ATLANTA, K. & N. R. CO. v. SHIPPEN et al.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

55 S.E. 1031

126 Ga. 784

ATLANTA, K. & N. R. CO.

v.SHIPPEN et al.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

Nov. 14, 1906.

1. Justices of the Peace—Pleading.

"While the law does not require that a pleader in a justice's court shall set forth his cause of action with all the formality which the law requires in courts of record, what is required to be set forth is subject to the rule that pleadings are to be taken most strongly against the pleader."

[Ed. Note.—For cases in point, see Cent, Dig. vol. 31, Justices of the Peace, § 306.]

2. Same—Jubisdiction.

Applying the rule just cited in the present case, that which constituted the pleadings was ambiguous in meaning, and when taken most strongly against the pleader set forth a claim for a penalty which was not within the jurisdiction of the court. (Syllabus by the Court.)

Error from Superior Court, Gilmer County; Geo. F. Gober, Judge.

Action by W. H. & F. E. Shippen against the Atlanta, Knoxvllle & Northern Railroad Company. Judgment for plaintiffs, and defendant brings error. Reversed.

The plaintiff sued the railway company in a justice's court. The summons required the defendant to appear and "answer plaintiff's demand in an action of debt due by account for overcharge on freight, a copy of which is hereto attached." The account attached was as follows:

Elbijay, Ga., Oct, 12, 1904.

The Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern R. R. Co.,

Dr., to W. H. and F. E. Shippen.

                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                |March 29, 1904—To freight collected on 11 heater section, 2 boxes of     |   |
                |fixtures, 7 grate bars, 2 bds. pokers, 2 bags                            |$57|
                |                                                                         |42 |
                |asbeste, 4245 lbs                                                        |   |
                |-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---|
                |Should be 4245 lbs. at 68 cts. per 100 lbs                               |28 |
                |                                                                         |86 |
                |-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---|
                |Overcharge                                                               |$28|
                |                                                                         |55 |
                |-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---|
                |To double said overcharge for failing to repay said overcharge within 30 |$57|
                |days after the demand had been made by W. H. and F. E. Shippen upon the  |10 |
                |Atlanta, Knoxville & Northern R. R. Co. to repay said overcharge         |   |
                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                

Following the account was an affidavit of one of the plaintiffs that the defendant was indebted to them "$57.10 as stated above, " and that the amount was due and unpaid. The defendant filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which, in effect, set up that the suit was for a penalty and should be brought in the county of defendant's residence and principaloffice, which was Pulton county. The case was carried by appeal to the superior court. When the case came on for trial on the appeal, the defendant moved to dismiss the action on the ground that it was a suit for a penalty, and the justice's court had no jurisdiction. The court overruled the motion, holding that plaintiffs could proceed against the...