Chapman v. Scott

5 F. Cas. 496, 1 Cranch 302

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia
• Decided: March 15, 1806
• Status: Published

Opinion

CRANCH, Chief Judge.

The simple and only ground of equity stated in the bill is, that the complainant had a good defence at law, and duly summoned his father as a witness to prove it, (“which will appear from the annexed summons.”) But that when the cause came on to trial, the complainant’s father wras so much indisposed, that he could not, in time, attend as a witness for the complainant, and judgment was obtained at law' against him. The summons was served not by a marshal or other officer, hut by the son of the witness. The answer denies the ground of defence at law', but does not say any thing of the absence of the witness at the trial. If, therefore, the equity of the bill is sufficient to warrant an injunction, it cannot be dissolved. The mere fact of the absence of a material witness at the time of trial, is not of itself a sufficient ground for an injunction, because the court of law who tried the cause, was fully competent to give relief, by a continuance or a new trial. The bill does not even aver that an application w'as made to the court of law' for that relief; and if it had, and the court had erroneously refused it, or had improperly exercised its discretion in refusing it, it is not competent for a court of equity to revise and correct the errors of a court of law in a case in which the latter had complete jurisdiction, equitable as well as legal. There being therefore, no ground of equity in the bill, the injunction must be dissolve "