Ezzell v. Maltbie

6 Ga. 495

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: March 15, 1849
• Docket: No. 69
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court.

Lumpkin, J.

delivering tlie opinion.

The question presented by this record is, when is a former recovery a complete bar to another suit?

Both policy and principle would seem to dictate, that whenever the record of the first suit covers the present cause of action, so that the merits might have ¿fie» passed upon, the former judgment would be conclusive, per se; otherwise, that salutary axiom of legal policy, which is as old as the law itself, nemo debet bis vexari pro una et eadem causa, would cease to have any practical value; and, as was most forcibly remarked by Mr. Justice Kennedy, the public peace and quiet would be subjected to the will or neglect of individuals, and suitors would prefer the gratification of a litigious disposition to the preservation of the public tranquility and happiness; and the result would be, that the tribunals of the State would be bound to give their time and attention to the trial of new actions for the same causes, tried once or oftener before, between the same parties or privies, without any limitation, other than the will of the litigants, to the great delay and detriment, if not exclusion, occasionally, of other causes which never have passed in rem judicatam. Marsh vs. Pier, 4 Rawle, 288.

[1.] And yet we feel quite satisfied, that the proposition suggested at the outset of this opinion, is not, although it should be, the law of the case.

To constitute the former recovery a complete bar, Professor Greenleaf says, “ it must appear to have been a decision on the merits.” 1 Greenlf. Ev. 566. Judge Tucker adopts the same rule : “ But the judgment must have been upon the merits or it will be no bar.” 2 Tuck. Com. 159. Mr. Chitty seems to favor the idea, that to make the plea of a former recovery available, the defence should show, that in the prior action, the defendant had a verdict in his favor on the merits. 1 Chitty's Plead. 513, note C.

In Seddon and others vs. Tulop, (6 T. R. 608,) another test is applied, which is, that the plea of a former recovery is no bar, if upon evidence it appears that the matter of the existing suit was not, in fact, the subject of inquiry in the former suit; and this is a leading case in the books. It is true, that in the former action, there was a count on a promissory note for £51, and another for £25 7s. for goods sold and delivered, and that the last suit was brought only for the latter of these demands. Still, this can make no difference ; for here the plaintiff was permitted to harass the defendant with the expense of two actions, when one would have answered the purpose. The record of the former suit covers the open account as well as the note. The last cause of action, to wit: the open account, is in both writs, and it could only be withdrawn from the operation of the first verdict and judgment, by parol proof, showing that, in fact, no evidence was given as to this cause of indebtedness. The authority of this case cannot be evaded, therefore, by saying, that the causes of action were distinct and embraced in different counts. Indeed, the Court of King’s Bench took no such distinction, but placed its decision upon the ground, after full discussion, that the claim for the goods now made, was not then made, though it is apparent, from the record, it might have been.

But the case of Hitchen vs. Campbell, (2 Blackstone’s Rep. 827,) was upon the same identical premises; and though it was argued by very eminent counsel? it was not even contended, that because the same sum demanded in the action might havebeen recovered in the former one, therefore the plaintiff could not recover it in that action. The only inquiry there was, whether the same cause of action had been litigated and considered in the former action.

So in the cases of Rowell vs. Farmer, (4 T. R. 146, ’7,) and Golightly vs. Jellicox, (Ib. in note,) it was held, that an award made on a reference of all matters in difference between the parties, was no bar to any cause of action that the plaintiff had against the defendant at the time of the submission, if the plaintiff could prove, that the subject matter of the action was not inquired into before the arbitrator.

The same doctrine was ruled in Martin vs. Thornton, (4 Esp. R. 181.) This was an action for malicious prosecution, and for maliciously holding the plaintiff to bail. There had been an arbitration between the parties, and an award, which was produced. It recited, that in the cause of Thornton vs. Martin, the plaintiff had no cause of action, and awarded to the plaintiff the costs; and that in the other action, Martin vs. Thornton, the plaintiff, Martin, had no cause of action, and ordered certain manuscript and printed papers to be given up, and finally directed that the parties should execute mutual releases. The defendant’s counsel then called the arbitrator to prove that the reference before him was a reference of all matters in difference, and that a claim had been made before him, by Martin, for compensation for the injury. This evidence was objected to, and it was contended that parol evidence was not admissible, as the award should speak for itself; but it was ruled by Lord Alvanley to be competent and sufficient evidence. See also, Comyn’s Digest, title Action, l. 4.

What the later authorities in England may be, it is needless perhaps to inquire, it being understood that we adopted the Common and Statute Law of the mother country, as it existed at the commencement of the revolution, and with it the construction put upon -it by the British Courts at that epoch, and that we are not at liberty to consider and follow decisions posterior to that period. In other words, that the 14th day of May, Anno Domini 1776, is the Pillars of Hercules in our judicial geography, this side of which we may not come in our explanations. If this be so, legislation is imperiously demanded. We are, to all intents and purposes, adscripti glebis, and as much serfs in mind as those were in body, who used to go with the clod. This ought not so to be. We are entitled to the benefit of the later, if not the higher lights of the great luminaries of the .law. Why should we be restricted to the year books, Dyer and Plowden, or to their successors, the Raymonds, Salkeld, Strange, Willes and Wilson, Burrow, Cowper and Douglass, the Blackstones, Bossanquet and Puller, however illustrious the Judges whose decisions they record, for an exposition of the Common and Statute Law of England? The science of law is pre-eminently progressive, and the shadows which overhung the age of Mack letter have been dissipating by-degrees only. The British Courts have undoubtedly, since our separation, made great improvements in that portion of the law which is common to us both. Shall we be forever bound to follow error, although now admitted and declared to be such by the very tribunals which first established it ? We honor our venerated predecessors of the olden time, who, brought up according to the then philosophy of the schools, in habits of great subtlety and refinement, displayed wonderful acuteness of mind in maintaining every maxim, presumption and fiction of law, with scrupulous exactness. We would prefer, however, to follow the modern practice, which, in the administration of justice, and with a view to enlarge its boundaries, does not hesitate to sacrifice the shadow in order to secure the substance.

But I will return to the point from which I have wandered.

Some of the earlier decisions in this country maintained the rule with great stringency, that the operation of the record should not be varied by matter in pais. Hess vs. Heble, 4 Serg. & Rawl. 246. 6 Ib. 57. Duffy vs. Lytle, 5 Watts, 130. Brockway vs. Kinney, 2 Johns. 210. This last case went to the extent of holding, that every thing set out in the declaration was, of necessity, presumed to have been included in the judgment; and that even where there were two distinct counts, unless a nolle prosequi were entered, parol evidence could not be received to show, that with regard to one of them, no testimony had been given at the trial. And in Wheeler vs. Van Houton, (12 Johns. 313,) and Bunnel vs. Pinto, (2 Conn. 433,) it was held, contrary to Rowell vs. Farmer, and Golightly vs. Jellicox, that after a submission of all demands to arbitration, that parol evidence could not be received to show that a part of the plaintiff’s demands had. not been the subject matter of inquiry before the arbitrators.

This doctrine, however, has been much relaxed in the more modern cases; and in Goddard vs. Selden, (7 Conn. 521,) it was adjudged, that although a former recovery is, prima facie, conclusive as to all matters which either party could have legally presented to the Jury under the pleadings, yet that this presumption may be rebutted by clear evidence of a contrary character; and that where a particular subject is shown not to have been, in fact, embraced in the former judgment, it may be made the subject of another suit between the parties.

The same law has been fully recognized and applied by the Courts of Pennsylvania and New York. Croft vs. Steal, 6 Watts. 375. Sterner vs. Gower, 3 Sergeant & Watts, 143. Wright vs. Butler, 6 Wend. 289. In this last case, a second action was brought by the indorsee against the indorser, to recover money expended for the use of the defendant, in the payment of a note on which he was liable, there having been a recovery and judgment in the first action. The defendant pleaded, first, the general issue; second, the former recovery, setting forth the declaration in the first action, which contained, in addition to the money counts, a special count on the note. Parol evidence was admitted to show, that the verdict of the Jury had been rendered only on the money counts, and that the special count on the note, had not been submitted to the Jury on the trial, and the plaintiff was allowed to recover.

Indeed, from a careful and extensive examination of the authorities, the conclusion to be drawn is, not that when a recovery has been had, and a new suit is brought, that the Courts are bound to consider as embraced that which might have been embraced ; but that the former record will not bo considered as having settled the present matter, unless the judgment to which this effect is ascribed, could not have passed without having decided the present matter.

In the case at bar, being reluctant to -go one step beyond what we are compelled to do, we will overrule the non-suit, and direct the case to be re-instated, on the ground that the cause of action for which the present suit is brought, did not really exist at the time when the first trial took place. According to the condition of the bond, Winn was not bound to make titles until the litigation, which was then pending respecting the land, had terminated. The evidence which the plaintiff proposed to introduce, was to show that, on the former trial, no other issue but this was submitted to the Jury, and that the testimony was restricted entirely to it, and that the verdict was rendered against Ezzell solely for the reason that there was no breach of the bond, it being in proof, that the litigation referred to in the instrument was still pending and undisposed of.

Indeed, to my mind, the record itself leads necessarily to the sanie conclusion. To the first action there was no plea whatever filed; and if the right to sue had then accrued, there must have been a verdict for nominal damages at least for the plaintiff. The defendant having obligated himself, under the penalty of four hundred dollars, to make titles or pay what the land was worth, in the absence of any special defence, it could have been an inquiry merely as to the amount of damages. The judgment, consequently, under the pleadings, could only have been awarded against the plaintiff, on account of his failure to prove that the litigation liad terminated concerning the land — a condition precedent in the contract to his right to sue.

Rose vs. Standen, (2 Modern Rep. 294,) was an account for sugar and indigo. The defendant pleaded that the plaintiff brought an indebitatus assumpsit, a quantum meruit, and an insimul computasset, for one hundred pounds due to him for wares sold, to which he pleaded non-assumpsit, and that there was a verdict against him, and then averred that the wares mentioned in the former action were the same as those mentioned here. The plaintiff demurred, and it was said for him, that he had brought his former action on the case too soon ; for if no account be stated, the action on the case on the insimul computasset will not lie, and so the former verdict might be given against him for that reason; but on the contrary it was argued, that the defendant shall not be twice troubled for the same thing, and that if the verdict hadbeen for the plaintiff, that might have been pleaded in bar to him in a new action. But die Court were of the opinion, that the plea "was not good, and that if the plaintiff had recovered, it could not have been pleaded in bar to him; that if no account be stated, the action on the case upon an insimul computasset would not lie— the insimul computasset implies an account — and wponnon-assumpsit pleaded, the defendant might have given payment in evidence, and for that reason the Jury might find for him. It is true, he mighthave pleaded “plene computavit,” which is the general plea, hut it may as well be presumed that the verdict was against the plaintiff, because the action would not lie, and the matter being in dubio, the Court will intend against the pleader, he not having averred to the contrary.

In the case at bar we hold, from the pleadings in the former suit, that the verdict must have been against the plaintiff, because the action was prematurely brought, and could have been rendered on no other ground. If it were doubtful, upon this precedent we should be at liberty to presume, at any rate, that such was the case.

I know that some of the volumes of this collection were considered and pronounced by Buller and Mansfield, and other distinguished Judges, as apocryphal or reports of but little authority, but I am not aware that the second volume, containing special cases, most of which were adjudged in the Court of Common Pleas, when Sir Francis North was the Chief Justice on that Bench, was ever assailed except by Lord Holt, of whom it is said, that upon a case being cited from 2 Modern, he said, in ira (!!!) “that no books ought to be cited at the bar but those which are licensed by the Judges.” Marv. Leg. Bib. 518, ’9.

The New Sngland Bank vs. Winslow, Lewis et al. (8 Pick. R. 113,) is a case strictly analagous to the one under consideration. An action at law had been brought by the bank against Winslow and Henry Lewis, on a promissory note, on which they were indorsers. The defendants pleaded that the suit was commenced on the day when the note fell due, and before notice to them of its dishonor, and judgment was rendered in their favor, on the ground that the action was brought prematurely. The bank now sought, by bill, to recover the note, alleging that it never had been paid, and that Jeffries, the maker, was insolvent. The defendants urged the former judgment in their favor, in the suit, on the note as a bar to the bill.

The Court held, that issue might be taken on the fact, and parol evidence admitted, to show that the real merits of the action had not been inquired into in the former suit; and it appearing that no cause of action had accrued when the first suit was instituted, that the judgment in that action was no bar, either at law os in equity.

Upon the principle of these two- precedents, we- will reverse the judgment below, and remand the cause for a re-hearing.