Burger v. Kortright

4 Johns. 414

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: August 15, 1809
• Status: Published

Opinion

Spencer, J.

delivered the opinion of the court. Two objections have been made to the judgment below. The first is, that the defendant below could not remit the damages found and that by the 12th section of the act for the more speedy recovery of debts to the value of 25 dollars, the justice is bound to give judgment on the verdict.

This court have disregarded a verdict for 6 cents, considering it as merely nominal. If a jury in this court should give the plaintiff more damages than he claims, by his declaration, there would be no hesitation in allowing a remittitur of the surplus beyond the damages laid in the declaration. So if in an action in which the defendant was not entitled to damages, the jury should give him damages," I see no reason why he should not be allowed to remit them. A remittitur would be permitted in both cases, on the principle, that the party in whose favour a sum is found, has the right immediately to cede it to the other party; and that the mistake of a jury, which can be corrected by the act of the party in whose favour it is made, and which mistake is not imputable to him, shall work no prejudice. The cases cited do not apply to this question ; nor are they opposed to these principles : the act ought to be construed in subserviency to these principles. It was obviously the intention of the legislature, to take away all right from the justice, to control or set aside the verdict of a jury: it would be an unnatural, and violent construction, to say, that the legislature meant to oblige the justice to give judgment in favour of a party, nolens volens.

The second objection, which relates to the merits, is, that the jury have disregarded an agreement relative to the partition fence, between the parties; and have founded their verdict on the decision of the fence viewers. I doubt much the legal efficacy of the agreement. It was not made between these parties. At all events, disputes did exist between them, as to the proportion of fence to be maintained by each; and thus the case came within the statute.

* An exception has been made, to the decision of the fence viewers; but it is of no avail; they never intended, and could not oblige the plaintiff, to make a fence across the defendant’s land.

The judgment ought not, therefore, to be disturbed, on account of any contrariety in the evidence, as to the decision of the fence viewers, if there appears enough to support it. The court are of opinion, that the judgment must be affirmed..

Judgment affirmed.

Rev. Laws, 332. s. 14.