New York Supreme Court, 1825

People v. Hallett

New York Supreme Court · Decided February 15, 1825 · Curia

4 Cow. 67

Counsel

M. Hoffman, for the defendant, relied on the words of the act concerning costs, (1 L. R. 344, s. 4,) and insisted that 6 cents nominal damages, for the detention of the debt, can not be regarded., P. Gansevoort, contra, cited Clapp v. Reynolds, (2 John. Cas. 409,) where the damages were held to make part of the, amount for the purpose of costs, in an action upon a penai ^iH.

Opinion of the Court

Curia.

No nominal damages are given in a judgment by default in debt.(a) The judgment consists of the debt and costs—nothing more. The costs must be taxed at the Common Pleas rate.

Rule accordingly.

And so are the entries in Lil. Ent. 473, 483, 503. Tidd. Pr. Forms, 169-70, on mutuutus. So of debt on bond. (Id.) So in 5 Wentw. 165-6, 414; and 10 id. 427-8, 453 ; and 7 id, 402.

Nominal or other damages are given by verdict in debt. (Lil, Ent. 257, 379. Tidd. Pr. Forms, 186-7.

And hence, Clapp v. Reynolds, (2 Johns. Cas. 409,) was probably the case of a verdict; and what is said by Buller, J. in Lord Lonsdale v. Church, (2 T. R. 398,) and by Lord Kenyon, Ch. J. in Wilde v. Clarkson, (6 T. R. 304,) of nominal damages, must also be understood in reference to a recovery by verdict.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.