Hill v. Morgan
Hill v. Morgan
Opinion of the Court
This is an application to tax damages and costs against the defendant in the above-entitled proceedings. The opinion in the main ease is reported ante, p. 718, 76 Pac. 323. After the decision was rendered the plaintiffs moved, under the provisions of section 4987 of the Revised Statutes, to have the plaintiffs’ costs and damages taxed against the defendant judge. The facts of the original case are stated in the opinion above referred to and need not be repeated here. Counsel for the plaintiffs filed their amended cost-bill setting forth the following items:
Clerk’s fees ............................$ 30 25
Sheriff’s fees for serving writ of mandate.... 14 00
Fees of clerk of district court.............. 5 00
Damages claimed by the plaintiffs under the provisions of said section 4987, consisting of attorneys’ fees and expense from Wallace to Boise, two trips....................... 400 00
Counsel for the defendant resisted the taxation of said costs and damages except the fees of the clerk of this court. The question, then, is presented, What damages, fees, costs and disbursements can be legally taxed against, a judge who makes a mistake in the dismissal of a case and is thereafter compelled to proceed and try the same by mandate from this court? Said section of the statute above referred to is as fcfilows: “Sec. 4987. If judgment be given for the applicant, he may recover the damages which he has sustained, as found by thé\jury, or as may be determined by the court or referee, upon a reference to be ordered, together with costs; and for such damaged and costs an execution may issue; and a peremptory writ of date must also be awarded without delay.”
It certainly was not intended by the provisions of that section of the statute to compel a court or judge to pay damages in case he made a mistake in deciding a question before him. So far as damages are concerned, the law does not contemplate that the judge or court shall be mulct in damages in case a mistake is made in the decision of the case, and for that reason the provisions of said section in regard to damages do not
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HILL v. MORGAN, Judge
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Writ of Mandate — Damages and Costs. 1. A judge against whom a writ of mandate is granted is not liable in damages to the plaintiff under the provisions of section 4987 of the Revised Statutes. (Syllabus by the court.)