Price v. Campbell
Price v. Campbell
Opinion of the Court
The single question is, Whether the chancellor could, upon the same facts, change the decree of this court? The case of White v. Atkinson, 2 Call, 376, decides that he could not; and I approve of that decision. It makes no difference, that it does not appear that the mistake was noticed at the time of affirming the former decree; for the point was fairly-presented upon the record; and it cannot be admitted that the court did not advert to it. A ^'contrary doctrine would overthrow the whole theory of the law; which supposes every thing contained in the record to have been decided on; and has wisely established the rule that interest reipublicas res judicatas non rescindí. For I cannot conceive of any thing more inconvenient to society, than a power in the courts below to reverse and alter the solemn judgments of the supreme tribunal, as controversies would then be perpetual, and suits become interminable. I think' therefore that the principle established, in the case of White v. Atkinson, ought to be adhered to; and consequently that the decree ought to be reversed.
White v. Atkinson, was a similar case; and there it was decided, that the court of chancery could not, upon the same facts, alter the decree of this court; which decision ought to be adhered to: or there will be no end to controversies; and parties will never be certain as to the result of the suit.
PER CUR. Reverse the decree.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.