Hayton v. Hope

• Decision Date: 30 April 1831
• Citation: 3 Mo. 53
• Parties: HAYTON v. HOPE.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

3 Mo. 53

HAYTON

v.HOPE.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

April Term, 1831.

ERROR FROM THE CALLAWAY CIRCUIT COURT.

WASH, J.

This was originally an action of debt commenced by Hope against Hayton before a justice of the peace to recover eighteen dollars, the balance of an account stated and filed with the justice, on the 11th of September, 1830. The cause was tried before the justice, and the defendant had verdict and judgment. On the 14th of the same month, Hope, the plaintiff below, appealed from the judgment of the justice to the Circuit Court, where he obtained a judgment by default against Hayton for the sum of twenty-seven dollars. To reverse which Hayton has come into this court. Various errors have been assigned and relied on by Mr. Buford for the plaintiff in error; only two of which need be now considered. First. That the appeal on the 14th, three days after the trial before the justice, without notice to the defendant, was illegal; and Second. That the judgment of the Circuit Court, for twenty-seven dollars, when the plaintiff in his account filed demanded only eighteen dollars, is erroneous.

As to the first point it is provided by “an act establishing Justices' Courts and regulating the collection of small debts,” Rev. Code, p. 473, § 22, that “appeals may be taken within twenty days after the justice has rendered judgment,” &c. (as the law now stands he must appeal within ten days; see L. Mo., session 1826, p. 32), and by the 23d section of the same act it is further provided, “that in all cases of appeals not prayed for on the day the trial is had, the party appealing shall notify in writing, the opposite party or his agent,” &c.^(a)

In the case before the court, the appeal was not taken on the day of trial, but three days thereafter, and the defendant was clearly entitled to notice in the manner prescribed in the act.

As to the second point it has been decided by this court, Carr & Co. v. Edwards, 1 Mo. R. 137, that a judgment for greater damages than the plaintiff has claimed is erroneous, and may for that error be reversed. Such was clearly the common law on the subject.^(b)

In the proceedings before a justice of the peace, the bond, note, account or statement filed with the justice, is, as to this purpose, to be regarded as the plaintiffs' declaration or count. On both these points, therefore, the judgment of the Circuit Court is erroneous and must be reversed, and the cause remanded.

(a). See Hempstead v. Darby, 2 Mo. R. 25 and note.

(b). See Carr

...