Hurt v. Dougherty
Hurt v. Dougherty
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
Robert Hurt, plaintiff’s testator, brought an action
Upon the trial in the Circuit Court, the defence
This latter ground of defence was fully sustained in the charge the Circuit Judge gave to the jury, to which exception was taken by the plaintiff; there was. verdict and judgment for the defendant, a motion for a new trial made and overruled, and an appeal in the nature of a writ of error to this Court.
We will examine these grounds of defence in the order in which they are presented; and, first: Was the judgment against these defendants for costs, a satisfaction and discharge of the bond? We think not. This bond was taken pursuant to the provisions of the act of 1835, ch. 84, C. & N., 348. The first section requires the party applying for writs of certiorari and supersedeas, in cases of forcible or unlawful detainer, “to give bond and security to' pay and satisfy all such costs and damages as shall accrue to the defendant in the petition for the wrongful prosecution of his suit.” And the second section requires this additional condition to be in the bond, — that is: That he shall “ pay
It is clear, that it was the intention of the Legislature in requiring these two distinct conditions in the bond, to secure the “ defendant in the petition,” not only in the costs, but also in the “damages for the wrongful detention of the premises.” But as the law then stood he could only recover in the action in which the bond was given — the costs provided for by the condition first above noticed; then, certainly it was the intention of the Legislature that he might bring an original suit on the bond for a breach of the second condition, to recover “ damages for the unlawful detention of the premises.” Otherwise, the second section of the statute and the condition under it in the bond, would be wholly nugatory.
We could not suppose the Legislature guilty of such an absurdity. As to the second ground of de-fence, that this is a covenant real running with the land, and upon the death of Robert Hurt it descended to and vested in his heirs, we think it wholly untenable. This is a statutory bond given for the prosecution of a suit, and possesses but few of the elements of a covenant real, running with the land; but we deem it unnecessary to enter upon the discussion of that question, as we think it is clear there was a breach of the covenant in the liietime of Robert Hurt, and that the right of action survived to his personal representatives.—See Shaw et al. vs. Wilkins, Adm’r, 8 Humph., 647.
The failure of Dougherty to prosecute his suit with effect in the Circuit Court, was a breach of his cove
As to what are the elements or grounds of damages embraced by the words of the statute and bond, for the wrongful detention of the premises,” at present we give no opinion; that question not being properly before us, the Circuit Judge having given no charge upon that point.
The judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded for another trial.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.