Bodley v. Hord
Bodley v. Hord
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an ejectment, and was heretofore brought to this court, and decided, and the report of the case will be found in 5 Litt. Rep. 88. On the return of the cause to the court below, Hord succeeded in obtaining a judgment for all the land in dispute, and Bodly obtained the appointment of commissioners to value improvements. This took place at the Novembor term, 1§24, of the court below.
At the August term, 1825, Hord obtained a rule against Bodley, to shew cause why he had not procured a report from the commissioners, and why, On account of the delay, a writ of possession, should not issue.
In that chancery suit, an agreement had been entered into, and signed by the parties, in which, among other things, touching the preparation of the suit, the following clause was inserted: “And it is further agreed between the parties, that all other suits depending between the parties, or upon the claims under wliich they hold, so far as their claims interfere, shall await the final decision of this suit.” This agreement was signed and sealed, and remained on file in the chancery suit. The land here in controversy was the same controverted in equity. The court below nevertheless ordered execution to issue, and Bodley, to that order, has prosecuted this writ •of ¡error.
It was certainly proper to take the method -resorted to by Hord, for the purpose of bringing the claim for improvements to a close. He could not be bound to lie by forever under the claim for improvements, without its being brought to an issue, and without any remedy to hasten his adversary; and the mode he pursued was a proper one. The claim set up by Bodley for improvements was, in the nature of a suit, and as all other suits may be dismissed when the plaintiff will not proceed to trial or prepare for it; so may this claim.. Hord, on this occasion, waited about nine months upon Bodley, and in that time no step was taken to value improvements. He was, therefore, justifiable in attacking the order.
The question then remains, was the written agreement shewn by Bodley, sufficient to excuse his delay and neglect to execute the order? We conceive not. That agreement was not an entry on record, nor was it made to operate as an injunction. To give it even that effect in a court of equity, it would
The judgment is affirmed, with costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.