Burson v. Hamilton
Burson v. Hamilton
Opinion of the Court
This is an action for the value of half of a crop of cotton and corn raised by the plaintiff on the defendant’s farm, under a contract of employment, and for damages for personal injuries inflicted by the defendant in dismissing the plaintiff from the farm. The suit was for $5,540; that is, $420 for the value of half of the cotton crop, $120 for the value of half of the corn, and $5,000 for damages for personal injuries inflicted upon the plaintiff by the defendant’s assaulting and beating him, in dismissing him from the farm, in violation of the contract of employment. As the crop was only partly gathered and sold when the suit was filed, the plaintiff had the part remaining in the field or in the defendant’s possession seized under a writ of sequestration.
The defendant, after the filing and overruling of an exception to the cumulation of the demand for damages with the demand for the value of half of the crops, and after an unsuccessful motion to dissolve the writ of sequestration, answered the suit, admitting the contract of employment, denying that he was indebted to the plaintiff, and alleging that the plaintiff himself had violated the contract by abandoning the crop in the field, and that he (defendant) was justified in striking the plaintiff in defending himself against an assault. The defendant further alleged that the plaintiff was indebted to him in the sum of $220 for supplies furnished while he was cultivating the crop. He prayed that the plaintiff’s demand be rejected and the writ of sequestration dissolved, and for judgment against the plaintiff for damages for an illegal sequestration of the crop. Judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, declaring him the owner of half of 4 bales of cotton and 59 bushels of com, and ordering the defendant either to deliver the half of the crop to the plaintiff or to pay him the value of it, less the sum of $S8 allowed the defendant as a credit for the supplies he had furnished. Of the demand for damages for personal injuries inflicted by the defendant upon the plaintiff in forcibly dismissing him from the farm, the court gave judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $750. The defendant prosecutes this appeal, and the plaintiff, answering the appeal, prays that the amount of the judgment be increased to the sum claimed in his petition.
Opinion.
On its merits, the ease presents only questions of fact, as to which the testimony is somewhat conflicting. A review of the evidence does not disclose any cause for reversing or amending the judgment. On the contrary, our opinion is that the district judge has rendered justice unto both parties.
The judgment appealed from is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BURSON v. HAMILTON
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- 2 cases
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- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by Editorial Staff.) 1. Action &wkey;>52> — Cumulation' on Demands non Damages — Consistency—'Validity. Under Code Prac. arts. 148-151, relating to cumulation of actions, the cumulation of plaintiff’s action for damages for defendant’s assault when discharging him from a farm and for damages for the value of half the crops raised under a contract of employment was propel’, both arising out of the contract, and not being inconsistent. 2. SEQUESTRATION One surety on a sequestration bond was sufficient. 3. Sequestration A bond required in a judicial proceeding, such as a sequestration bond, is not invalid merely because the name of surety is not written in the body thereof, if the surety has otherwise, as by oath annexed, plainly indicated the capacity in which he signed. 4. Appeal and Error In plaintiff’s action for value of half of crops raised on defendant’s farm under a contract of employment and for personal injury by defendant in dismissing plaintiff from farm, any error in judgment recognizing plaintiff as owner of half of crops not sold, with option to defendant to deliver it to plaintiff or pay its value, being favorable to defendant, was no reason for annulling judgment, where plaintiff did not complain thereof.