McDonald v. Central Railroad
McDonald v. Central Railroad
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This was an action for personal injuries. The defendant pleaded a release, and the plaintiff replied that the instrument was obtained by fraud. At the trial, the release having been introduced as a defence, the plaintiff offered evidence for the purpose of supporting his averment that he had been induced to execute it through the fraud of the defendant. On the part of the defendant testimony' was then put in tending to show that the plaintiff executed the release voluntarily, and with a full understanding
The two hundred and fifteenth section of the Practice act provides that “the Circuit Court may, upon terms, state and certify any question of doubt or difficulty to be argued at the bar of the Supreme Court, which court shall hear the same, and, after opinion given therein, shall certify the same to the said Circuit Court, which court shall render judgment therein in conformity to such opinion.” A reading of this statutory provision shows very plainly, we think, that it is only fundamental questions which may be certified to us for our opinion —that is, questions which are dispositive of the litigation, and the answers to which will enable the Circuit Court to render judgment for the one party or the other, without any further proceedings in the cause on its part. The question submitted to us for our opinion in the present case is not of this character. If Ave should examine the proofs accompanying the certificate, and should conclude from such examination that there was an entire lack of evidence supporting the plaintiff’s contention, and should certifjr our opinion to that effect, no judgment could be entered upon that opinion, for there would be no verdict upon which to rest it. The situation would be the same if we should express the opinion that there was evidence winch sustained the plaintiff’s allegation. In either event the jury would have to be recalled by the Circuit Court, and directed to return a verdict under proper instructions, which, if we certified in the one Avay, would be controlling, and if in the other, would leave the ultimate settlement of the matter of fact to be determined by them.
The established practice under this statute requires that all matters of fact shall be settled in the Circuit Court, and
The certified case must be dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CHARLES F. McDONALD v. CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY
- Status
- Published