Zell v. Arnold
Zell v. Arnold
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The objection at the Circuit Court was that the jury had not found costs as well as damages. That point came up in Stores v. Tong, Rep. & Ca. of Prac. in C. B. 7, in which it was held that where the jury are ex officio bound to give costs, .and omit to do so, the Court will supply the deficiency. Here the plaintiff’s right to costs is resisted on the ground that the cause of action was cognizable by a justice of the peace. The declaration is in case; and although the action has grown out of a contract, it is not necessarily within the act of assembly. No other contract formed an ingredient in the subjectof it, than that implied by the law, which requires any one employed in an art or calling, to bring to the business a competent share of diligence and skill. The gist of an action on the .case like the present, is not a failure to perform, but a failure to perform in a worhmanly manner, avhich is a tort. Slater v. Baker, 2 Wils. 359. Dr. Groenvelt’s case, Ld. Raym. 214. An undertaking for skill and diligence is implied no further than to raise a duty, the BREACH of which is the gravamen and meritorious cause of the action. The difference between assumpsit which is an action directly on the contract, and case which is collateral to it, is shewn by the pleadings.
Judgment affirmed
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ZELL against ARNOLD
- Cited By
- 19 cases
- Status
- Published