56 F. 236 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Louisiana | 1893
This case is submitted upon an application of the libelant for a change in the decree which adjudged costs against him. The suit was a suit of a minority part owner to control the use of the vessel. The allegations in the libel were that the libelant had a, title to, and owned, one-third of the boat. After the litigation had proceeded some way, and the cross libel had been filed, an amended libel was filed' by libelant, by which it appeared that he had no legal title whatever to a third of the boat, but only a conditional contract for it. Upon these facts appearing the claimants excepted to the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case at the instance of the libelant, who had no-title except an equitable title. The court maintained the exception, and it dismissed the libel at the libelant’s costs. The question is, was there error in adjudging costs? The authorities cited by the proctor for the libel-ant abundantly justify his position that it is a general rule, where the court has no jurisdiction, it cannot adjudge costs; hut there is an exception to that rule which is based upon clear and well-recognized reasons, and it is that where, according to the averments of the libelant, or plaintiff, or complainant, the court has jurisdiction, and it is not until there is a disclosure by plea and evidence that the want of jurisdiction could he arrived at, in such a case costs are adjudged. In Lowe v. The Benjamin, 1 Wall. Jr. 187, at page 188, Judge Grier says:
“But where, on showing of the pleas, writs, and declarations, the court has apparent jurisdiction of the subject-matter of the cause, and the w it of jurisdiction is first disclosed by the plea and evidence, the. defendant ought to have judgment for his costs in the same manner as if he had succeeded on the trial hy the interposition of any other plea; and this; for the reason that the parties are in court on the issue, and judgment has been rendered thereon.”
After stating the general doctrine, Judge Grier adds:
*237 “The ease before us is of tlio latter sort Tlio llliol showed no -want of jurisdiction, winch was first stated in the answer. Jurisdiction was one of the issues tried, and the subject of evidence and argument on botli sides. As well in the district court as bore the parties were before the court, which had jurisdiction of the subject thus presented to them for trial; and the court proceeds to decree costs.”
In Thomas v. White, 12 Mass. 370, the court adjudged costs for the defendant, and, after stating the general rule to he as is claimed by the learned proctor for the libelant, says:
■‘But in this case tlio court has jurisdiction of the subject, to wit, a probate bond, and it .is only by the plea of the defendant, on which there must be an issue and judgment, that the want of jurisdiction in this particular suit can be maintained.”
I think, therefore, costs were rightly adjudged, and that the application for a rehearing and modification of the judgment must be refused.
