Erie Bank v. Brawley

8 Watts 530

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: September 15, 1839
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

As the cause was not ended by setting aside the award, the writ of error issued itnprovidently. In Straub v. Smith, 2 Serg. & Rawle 382, it was ruled that error lies not while the cause is pending, though subsequent to the quashing of an appeal from an award of arbitrators; but it is argued here, that by setting aside the award itself, the plaintiff has lost the benefit of his lien, while in that case it remained a security, to the extent of its amount, for what should ultimately be found due. This is the difference; and what does it amount to? In that case, the award might have been as entirely discharged by the verdict, as it could be by being set aside; and the injury to be corrected in this, differs but in the degree. But it is inaccurate to say, the plaintiff will lose the benefit of his lien, should the award hereafter be found to have been erroneously set aside. In both cases, the advantage gained by the award might be destroyed by what, though produced by opposite means, is substantially the same injury—the sending of the cause improperly to a jury. In such a case what is to be done? “When the court of common pleas has proceeded to final judgment,” it was said in Straub v. Smith, “ the whole proceedings may be reviewed on a writ of error.” And to what end? Undoubtedly to carry back the work of correction to the point where error began, and to put the party in statu quo, by reversing the final judgment of the common pleas, with its order to set the award aside, or allow an appeal, and to affirm the judgment of the arbitrators, which, by the letter of the statute, is to be a lien till it is reversed by appeal.

Writ of error quashed.

Note.—At this term, the very same point arose, and received the same decision, in the case of Bartholomew v. Hall, on a writ of error to Warren county.