Freeman v. Powers

California Supreme Court
Freeman v. Powers, 7 Cal. 104 (Cal. 1857)
Terry

Freeman v. Powers

Opinion of the Court

Terry, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court—Murray, C. J., concurring.

The jurisdiction of justices of the peace is limited by the Constitution to cases in which the amount involved does not exceed two hundred dollars, excepting in proceedings arising under the statute concerning forcible entry and detainer. See Zander w. Coe, 5 Cal.; and V an Etten & Steel v. Jilson, and Hart v. Moon, 6 Cal., 19 and 161.

It follows that the Court erred in refusing to allow defendant to prove the value of the mining-claim, as alleged in his answer.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

Reference

Full Case Name
FREEMAN v. POWERS
Status
Published
Syllabus
The jurisdiction of justices of the peace is limited by the Constitution to cases in which the value of the thing in controversy does not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars, except in proceedings under the statute concerning forcible entry and unlawful detainer. The fact that the thing in dispute, a mining-claim, is worth more than two hundred dollars, ousts the justice of his jurisdiction.