New York Supreme Court, 1804

Strowell v. Vrooman

Strowell v. Vrooman
New York Supreme Court · Decided August 15, 1804
2 Cai. Cas. 107; 1 Cole. & Cai. Cas. 371
Strowell v. Vrooman

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam.

This practice is increasing, and becoming grievous. It is time it should be arrested. We ought not to decide cases, unless there be a lis pendens here.(a) We cannot otherwise enforce our decision, and the Very point may come up again. We therefore must refuse taking up the case.

Though there be a Ms pendens, a judge at nisi prius is authorized in refusing to try it, if the issue be such as a court of law ought not to entertain. Therefore, Lord Loughborough would not permit a cause to be brought on, where the matter in dispute was the number of chances in playing an illegal game. Brown v. Leeson, 2 H. Bl. 43. And Lord Ellenborough followed hia example, where the cause of action was a wager on an abstract point of practice. Henkin v. Gerss, 2 Camp. 408; 12 East, 247, S. C, an action not Deing maintainable on a wager on a point of law in'which the parties have not any interest.

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