Dwyer v. United States ex rel. Allentown Rolling Mills

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Dwyer v. United States ex rel. Allentown Rolling Mills, 93 F. 616 (2d Cir. 1899)
1899 U.S. App. LEXIS 2268

Dwyer v. United States ex rel. Allentown Rolling Mills

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

There being no bill of exceptions, the writ of error brings up only the judgment roll, and whatever questions may arise thereon. Two assignments of error only have been presented in argument.

1. It appears that the bond was in the amount of $12,000, and defendants contend that there can be no recovery in excess of that sum. It is well settled that no damages can be recovered in excess of the penalty named in the bond, but the costs which plaintiff is made to incur by the obligors’ failure to pay on demand, and subsequent defense of the action, a,re within neither the letter nor the spirit of the rule. The total amount of the recovery in this case, exclusive of costs, is $11,861.68, — a sum less than the penalty.

2. It is further suggested by plaintiff in error that a party is not entitled to interest on an unliquidated claim until after demand. The proposition is undoubtedly sound, but we fail to see its application here. Conceding that the plaintiff’s demand was unliquidated, it appears that the verdict was “for the plaintiff for $10,-924°%oo, with interest from July 16, 1897, amounting to $60088/ioo, making a total of $11,52538/ioo.” It further appears that the summons and complaint were served on July 16, 1897. This was certainly a demand sufficient to set interest running. The judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
DWYER v. UNITED STATES, to Use of ALLENTOWN ROLLING MILLS
Cited By
7 cases
Status
Published