Dumas v. Boulin
Dumas v. Boulin
Opinion of the Court
The issues in this case are preserved by bills of exception, and are likewise presented by a statement of facts. The circumstances pertinent to the first question we have investigated, are as follows : The suit was pending before the late Fourth District Court and was transferred, under the Constitution, to the Civil District Court. Defendant had, before the first named tribunal, demanded a jury and made the legal deposit for jury fees. Plaintiff transferred -the-record and cause, and then ruled the defendant to show cause why the case should not be placed upon the ordinary docket and tried without the intervention of a jury. Plaintiff’s conten-’ tion is, that it was defendant’s duty, within a reasonable time, either to transfer or replace the deposit he had made. Defendant-maintained that the plaintiff should have demanded the same from the clerk of the former court and placed it iu the possession of the clerk of the Civil District Court
The reason for compelling such a deposit, at the moment of demanding a trial by jury, is to ensure the prompt payment to each juryman of the compensation allowed him by law, and at the same time to prevent the possibility of such applications being made for or causing delay. If a party could demand such a trial, and secure the transfer of the case to the jury docket, and then refuse to provide the sum necessary to compensate the jurors, there would be left open only one of three-alternatives. Either the cause would have to be postponed' and then remitted to the ordinary docket, after considerable-loss of time 5 or the jurymen would be compelled to serve with
The object of the law is, therefore, not simply to arbitrarily tax the claimant, demanding such a trial. It has the broader purpose of imposing upon him the duty of providing for the immediate payment of the jurymen, so soon as they shall have disposed of the cause. The provision requiring the deposit is only a method of the law for securing this end j but it does not remove the general obligation itself of accomplishing it from the party upon whom it rests. Therefore, in our opinion, the applicant is not only compelled to make, but he must maintain this deposit, so that the purpose of the law be accomplished. Should it be embezzled, or otherwise lost, it is at his risk, as the deposit is only in the nature of a guarantee or security for the performance of a legal obligation, which it floes not, in any manner, extinguish or replace.
Should such deposit be lost, the applicant should not thereby, ipso facto, lose his right to a jury; but he should, upon ascertaining the loss, have an opportunity of replacing the deposit. If, however, as in this case, after' due notice, he neglects or refuses to renew or recover it, the effect, from the moment of ■default, is the same as though he had never furnished the amount by law required of him. The ruling of the Court, therefore, making absolute the rule in question was correct.
The second bill touches the merits of the cause. The note sued upon, it seems, has for its consideration usurious interest upon another preceding contract. The history of the usury laws of this State is well and elaborately given by Mr. Justice Marr, in his opinion in the case of Chaffe & Son v. Heyner, 31 La. An. 606, 607. "We consider it there demonstrated that where a contract of loan is involved the charging of usurious interest in this State forfeits all the interest, and not merely the unlawful excess.
But the last paragraph of C. C. Art. 2924, which reproduces Act of 1860, p. 41, is much broader than the one immediately preceding it, which is itself preservative of Act of 1856, p 130. By its provisions “ the owner of any promissory note, bond, or other ivritten evidence of debt, for the payment of money to order or bearer, or transferable by assignment, shall have the right to collect the whole amount of such promissory note * * * notwithstanding such promissory note, etc., may include a greater rate of interest, or discount, than eight per cent per annum,” etc.
Mr. Justice Marr, in the ease cited, says: “It is not necessary-to express any opinion now as to what the effect would be, as between the original contracting parties, where interest above eight per cent, is included as a part of the capital sum and a note given for the aggregate amount, in the settlement of an ordinary debt.”
This case, by subrogation, stands now between the original parties, but, the conclusion reached upon other questions, releases ns from the necessity of expressing our opinion upon this point.
The fate of this case turns upon a construction of the word “ include,” as used in the last paragraph of the article cited. This word has two meanings, or, rather, we might say, two s hades of the same meaning. It may apply where that which
As, therefore, the law forfeits the whole of the interest, when it is usurious, and as this note has no other consideration but such usurious interest, we believe that it cannot be enforced by courts of justice.
Judgment reversed and now rendered for defendant, with all costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.