Wood v. May

| U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia | May 15, 1827

The Court (nem. con.) said, that if the jury should find the issues for the plaintiff, the value of the goods stated in the bond is prima facie evidence of the amount of the plaintiff’s damages; and that, if the defendant should contend for a less amount, the burden of proof is on him to show it. In the action of replevin of Arguelles v. Wood, in which this bond was taken, the defendant avowed for rent-arrear, and upon that issue the jury found for the defendant, and one cent damages, and that the rent arrear was $140, but did not find the value of the distress, so that the court could not render judgment under the statute 17 Car. 2, c. 7; but the court rendered the eommon-law judgment, for a- return of the property. The present action is upon the replevin-bond given by Mrs. Ai'guelles in that case.

The Court having given the above opinion, Mr. Jones and Mr. Wallach, for the defendant, offered to prove that the rent was all paid; to which Mr. Hall and Mr. Key, for the plaintiff, objected, contending that the verdict rendered in the case of Arguelles v. Wood was conclusive evidence that $140 rent-arrear were due.

But the Court (Thruston, X, absent,) was of opinion, that so much of the finding, namely, that $140 rent were in arrear, was mere surplusage, inasmuch as the jury did not also find the value of the distress, so as to make it a material finding under the statute, and to enable the court to render the statutory judgment ; and that it was now competent for the defendant to show in mitigation of damages, that less rent was due; the question upon the issue of no rent-arrear being whether any rent be in arrear, and not whether any particular sum be due. See Starkie on Ev. Part 4, p. 1297.

Verdict for the plaintiff $140, with interest from 25th July, 1823 ; and judgment accordingly.