Rappelyea v. Hulse
Rappelyea v. Hulse
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The state of demand in this case, alleges that the plaintiff below “ was possessed of a wagon and two horses in the public highway, and that the defendant drove his wagon and horses against the wagon and horses of the plaintiff, with such force and fury as to frighten the plaintiff’s horses, and to cause them to break loose from his wagon and run away, and the said horses being so frightened, and in running, were greatly bruised, wounded, and injured, and the harness broken; by means whereof the plaintiff saith he hath sustained damage to one hundred dollars.”
The defendant insisted unsuccessfully before the justice in the first place, and afterwards before the Court of Common Pleas, on the appeal, that the action was misconceived, and should *have been in trespass, instead of trespass on the case; and on the same ground he now seeks a reversal of the judgment rendered against him.
The counsel of the plaintiff below, insists that the gravamina, of w'hich he complains, are wholly consequential and
Under this state of demand, the plaintiff may unquestionably claim recompense for the injury done by driving the one wagon and horses against the' other. And this act is the subject of a suit of trespass, not of trespass on the case; whichsoever of the criteria to distinguish between them may be preferred and adopted. It combines them all • it was unlawful; direct; immediate; willful and forcible. The form of action, therefore, was misconceived; and the judgment should be reversed.
Drake, J., concurred.
Ford, J., absent.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jonathan Rappelyea v. William Hulse
- Status
- Published