Obst v. Kohnhorst
Obst v. Kohnhorst
Opinion of the Court
Opinion oe the Court by
The appellee sued the appellant for $99.50 before a justice of
Neither ground is available in tbis court.
1. Failing to have tbe damages assessed by a jury, though apparently erroneous, did not make tbe judgment void. And tbe only way to correct that error was by tbe appeal taken to tbe common pleas. But the e^ror was waived in that court which properly affirmed tbe judgment under tbe authority of tbe 853rd section of tbe Code of Practice providing that “if tbe appellant fails to prosecute bis appeal from tbe justice it shall be at tbe option of tbe appellee either to proceed to trial on tbe appeal or have judgment rendered for tbe amount of tbe original judgment or costs where it was in bis favor.” Tbe elective judgment was accordingly rendered in tbis case; and it is now too late to object, for tbe first time, that tbe damages were assessed without a jury.
2. An act of tbe dth of March, 1866 (Myer’s Suppt. 575), gave to tbe justices of tbe peace for Jefferson and Kenton counties jurisdiction over all common law actions “regardless of tbe kind or nature of tbe action'when tbe matter in controversy, or sued for, exclusive of interest or costs, does not exceed one hundred dollars, qualified only by tbe proviso that they shall not have jurisdiction in any case where tbe title to real estate is involved, or an action to enforce a mortgage or lien.” Tbe action in tbis case did not assert a title to real estate. By implication it asserted actual possession, but did not imply title to tbe clause intruded on. Apparently, therefore, title to real estate was not, by warrant or plea, involved. Consequently tbe amount claimed’ being less than $100, tbe justice bad jurisdiction.
Wherefore, the judgment of tbe common pleas court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.