M'Donald v. Crockett
M'Donald v. Crockett
Opinion of the Court
Curia, per
With regard to the merits of this case the court concur with the chancellor, and have nothing to add to the views which he has taken in his decree. The only question on which it is thought necessary to make any observations, is that respecting the jurisdiction of the court. No question of jurisdiction was made in the court below, either by plea or answer. The defendants submitted to the jurisdiction until all the matters in issue had been investigated, and had undergone five years' litigation; and when a decree has been pronounced against them, they then, for the first time, allege that the court had no jurisdiction. It is difficult, perhaps, to set out the limits of the equity jurisdiction by visible metes and bounds, so that the lines and corners may be distinctly seen. There are certain cases of which the court alone will take cognizance; such as cases of trust, matters of account, specific performance of contracts and the like. There are other cases, the *subject matter of which cannot be brought within the pale of that court; such for instance, as slander, assault and battery, cases involving dry legal titles to land, &c. But there are other cases, such as cases of fraud, and a great variety of anomalous cases, of which the two courts have concurrent
In the case of Underhill v. Van Cortland, 2 Johns. Cha. Rep. 369, Chancellor Kent again lays down the *same rule, and says, “ It would be an abuse of justice if the defendants were to be permitted to protract a litigation to the last extent, and with the expense attending the suit, and then at the final hearing interpose this preliminary objection.”
Chief Baron Gilbert, in his History of the Chancery Practice, says, “Where the common law would give the same relief as a court of equity then if the defendant would deny the deed and demur to the relief', the demurrer would be allowed ; but if the defendant doth not demur to the relief, the court will decree for the plaintiff on the hearing, because the defendant admitted the jurisdiction by answering and putting it in issue. “The court of chancery,” says Lord Redes-dale, “being a superior court of general jurisdiction, nothing shall be intended to be out of its jurisdiction which is not shown to be so.” Red. Treat. (3d Lond. edit.) 183. And it is said in Sir John Warden’s case, before Lord Talbot, there was an objection for want of jurisdiction, and that the matter was properly triable at law ; but it being disclosed that he had filed a cross bill, the court did not enter into that objection, but said the defendants had given jurisdiction. 2 Madd. Cha. 283. But the case now' under consideration is still stronger, because the objection was not made until the cause ivas brought to this court, after a final decree had been pronounced. I do not however wished to be understood that I am of opinion that this was not a proper case for the court of equity. I am inclined to think the jurisdiction might be maintained upon principle. The motion must therefore be refused, and the decree affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
I am constrained to dissent from my brethren in this case, on the ground that there is plain and adequate remedy at law.
Decree affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.