Eleventh School District v. Rood
Eleventh School District v. Rood
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
An audita querela can never be sustained for what is only matter of error, whether it be error in law or in fact.
The justice had power to decide on the right of the prudential committee or of others to appear in his court. Such a power must be incidental to all courts; and without it every loafer in the streets might appear in a justice’s court. It is not important in this case to inquire whether the justice decided right or wrong. If a party has legal notice of a suit, and the plaintiff takes a judgment against him before a court of competent jurisdiction, error in law or fact, in the court, whether in a decision upon the merits of the case or upon some interlocutory question, is no ground to set aside the judgment upon audita querela, and to put the party out of court.
The judgment of the county court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Eleventh School District in Alburgh v. Horace Rood and Abram Stanbarge
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- If a party lias legal notice of a suit in which, a judgment is recovered against him before a court of competent jurisdiction; error, in law or fact, in the court, whether upon a decision on the merits of the case, or upon some interlocutory question, is no ‘ground for setting aside the judgment on audita querela. An erroneous decision of a justice of the peace, respecting the right of the prudential committee of a school district to appear and defend a suit against said school district, before said justice, is no ground for relief by audita querela. A justice of the peace has power to decide on the right of the prudential committee or of others to appear in his court. Such a power is incidental to all courts.