16 Neb. 444 | Neb. | 1884
This case was decided by this court in November, 1883, the judgment of the court below being affirmed. A rehearing was granted and the cause again submitted.
It appears from the record that in January, 1883, the plaintiff brought an action against the defendant before a justice of the peace to recover the sum of $61.25 and interest on a promissory note. On the return day of the summons, both parties being present, the defendant filed a bill of particulars of his set-off. The plaintiff then filed an affidavit for a continuance, which the justice did not consider sufficient, and therefore refused to continue the cause. An adjournment of three hours was afterwards granted “to give plaintiff time to procure witnesses.” At
The ground upon which the appeal was dismissed, without doubt, was that the plaintiff had failed to make his defense to the set-off before the justice, but the record fails to show that fact. All that is required of the adverse party is, that in good faith he shall litigate his claim before the justice. This may be done by producing witnesses, or by the cross-examination of those produced by the other side. In many cases all that a party can expect to accomplish by an appearance, is to reduce the plaintiff’s claim. If 'he contests this in good faith his right to appeal is unquestioned. The transcript fails to show the character of the defendant’s set-off, and probably the only question was as to the amount of recovery. The record fails to show that judgment was taken by default in favor of the defendant. The plaintiff was therefore entitled to appeal. Considerable stress in the argument of the case was laid upon the fact that the statute requires the cause to proceed in the same manner in the appellate court as in justice court,—in other words the plaintiff is to file a petition and the defendant an answer, which it is claimed the plaintiff could not do in this case.
Set-off is a demand against the plaintiff in favor of the defendant. It may be less than the plaintiff’s demand or equal to, or exceed it; but to the extent it is established it liquidates the plaintiff’s claim. It .is in fact a cross action
This court will treat all matters of mere form in justices’ courts with great lenity, and no case will be reversed unless the errors are prejudicial, even if a mistake is made in the title of a case, provided the judgment is definite and specific and between the proper parties. But this rule will not be extended to deprive a party of a substantial right. The judgment of the district court must be reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.