Look v. Luce

140 Mass. 461 | Mass. | 1886

Morton, C. J.

This is a petition for a writ of scire facias, to obtain a new execution upon a judgment of a trial justice, brought under the Pub. Sts. e. 172, § 53. The original writ was against the defendant as administratrix of the estate of Theodore Luce. The trial justice rendered a judgment that the plaintiffs “ recover against the goods and estate of the said Theodore Luce, deceased, in the hands of the said Caroline M. Luce, administratrix as aforesaid, the sum of one hundred and six dollars damages, and costs of suit taxed at nine dollars and forty-six cents.” An execution for said damages and costs, running against the estate, was issued and levied upon the estate of Theodore Luce for its full amount. It was held in Look v. Luce, 136 Mass. 249, that such levy was invalid, upon the ground, not that the judgment was void, but that the execution issued against the estate for the costs was illegal, and the levy of such execution was void.

H. E. JBraley, for the defendant. O. Gf. M. Dunham, for the plaintiffs.

In view of the provisions of the statutes discussed in Look v. Luce, ubi supra, it was irregular for the trial justice to render a judgment against the estate for costs, but this does not make the judgment void. Hardy v. Call, 16 Mass. 530. The defendant now contends that the order of the Superior Court, that execution should issue against the estate for the damages, is erroneous, because such execution would not conform to the judgment.

The respect in which it fails to pursue the judgment is that it is for a less sum, — a difference which cannot harm the defendant. But this technical difficulty can be cured by the plaintiffs’ remitting the amount of the costs, and thus substantial justice will be done.

A remittitur may be entered, as well after judgment as before, in the court where the cause remains. Hemmenway v. Hickes, 4 Pick. 497. Hutchinson v. Crossen, 10 Mass. 251. Such remittitur, when entered, will operate as an amendment of the judgment, and thus obviate the objection that the execution does not pursue the judgment. We are of opinion that, in this case, justice requires that the plaintiffs should have the right to enter such remittitur; and that, upon their doing so, an execution should issue against the estate for the damages awarded by the

judgment.

Ordered accordingly.