Klein v. Board of Supervisors

Mississippi Supreme Court
Klein v. Board of Supervisors, 51 Miss. 878 (Miss. 1876)
Campbell

Klein v. Board of Supervisors

Opinion of the Court

Campbell, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is an action brought by plaintiff in error against defendant, which demurred to the declaration on the ground that' the action is brought upon county warrants of Warren county, issued by the clerk upon claims audited and allowed by said board of supervisors. The demurrer was sustained and the action dismissed, and a writ of error prosecuted, which presents the question, whether the holder of county warrants can sue the board of supervisors by ordinary action. In the case of A. H. Taylor v. Board of Police of Chickasaw County, not reported, though decided at the October term, 1869, it was decided by the high court of errors and appeals of this state, that an action cannot be maintained on county warrants. Opinion Book “ K,” p. 61. This conclusion is supported by brief but conclusive reasoning. Without a statute authorizing a suit against the board, it would not be maintainable. The statute giving the right to sue does not embrace a case where a claim has been allowed and a warrant issued. It is only where the board of supervisors may “ refuse *879to allow” a claim, that suit may be brought on it. A warrant is. evidence of allowance, not of refusal. If the claim has been allowed, the creditor has a judgment and does not need another, which would be satisfiable with another warrant. Code of 1871, § 1384

The demurrer was properly sustained and the judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
George M. Klein v. Board of Supervisors of Warren County
Cited By
9 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Warrants : Suits thereon. The holder of county warrants cannot sue the county in an ordinary action based upon the warrants. The statute giving the right to sue a county does not embrace claims that have been allowed and warrants issued, for it is only where the board of supervisors refuse to allow a claim that suit may brought on it.