Guier v. M'Faden

2 Binn. 587, 1809 Pa. LEXIS 59

• Court: Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
• Decided: July 15, 1809
• Status: Published

Opinion

Rush, President.

It is agreed that the reference is in the common terms, and in the usual form; and that the referees have no express power given to them over the costs.

In the enumeration of awards, 1 Dall. 314., Williams v. Craig, it is correctly stated by the court, that in Pennsylvania there exists a species of awards or reports, unknown to the English law, founded upon an act of opr legislature in the year 1705, by which it is enacted that, “ where the plaintiff “ and defendant consent to a rule of court, for referring the “ adjustment of their accounts, to certain persons mutually “ chosen by them in open court, the award or report of such “ referees, being made according to the submission of the “ parties, and approved by the court, and entered upon the record or roil, shall have the same effect, and be as availa- “ ble in law, as a verdict by twelve men.”

This act expressly puts a verdict and a report on the same footing, when the latter is approved by the court; which is understood to be the case here, and that the only point in controversy, is the costs.

It very often happens that the legislature make costs operate by way of penalty, and sometimes they make use of. them as a hedge, to keep the party going to law, within the limits of the tribunal pointed out to him. In our legislative acts we have several instances of this latter kind. To prevent harassing a person in a higher court, and thereby loading him with heavier costs, when the debt is cognisable in an inferior tribunal, it is enacted by the law of 1745, that if any person shall commence, sue, or prosecute any suit for any debt or demand made cognisable as aforesaid, in any other manner than is directed by this act, and shall obtain a verdict or judgment therein, for debt or damages, which without costs, shall not amount to more than Si. (not having caused an oath or affirmation to be made before the obtaining of the writ of summons or capias, and filed the same in the pro thonotary’s office respectively “ that he, she or they so mak- “ ing oath or affirmation did truly believe the debt due, or “ damage sustained, exceeded the sum of five pounds,”) he, she, or the)7, so prosecuting, shall not recover any costs in such suit, any law, &c. to the contrary notwithstanding.

In thfe 20/. act of 1794 is the following clause, “ if any per- “ son shall bring any suit or action in other manner than is “ provided by the act to which this is a supplement, and shall “ not recover more than 20/. in such suit or action, he, she, “ or they, shall not have judgment for any costs therein ex- “ pended, except as in and by the said act is provided;” that is, unless he makes a previous affidavit, &c.

In the year 1804 the 100 dollar act was passed, the 14th section of which is in the following terms, “ that if any person “ shall commence, sue, or prosecute any suit or suits for any “ debt, or debts, demand, or demands, made cognisable as “ aforesaid, in any other manner than is directed by this act, “ and shall obtain a verdict or judgment therein, which with- “ out costs, shall not amount to more than 100 dollars, not “ having caused an oath or affirmation to be made before the “ obtaining of the writ of summons or capias, and filed the “ same in the prothonotary’s office respectively, that he, she, “ or they so making oath or affirmation, did truly believe the “debt'due, or damage sustained, exceeded one hundred “ dollars, he, she, or they, so prosecuting shall not recover “ costs in any such suit.”

From this view of the law, a verdict and report being placed *".0 the same legal ground by the act of 1705, it would appear too plain to be made a question, that where the plabitiff recovers less than 100 dollars, without the previous affidavit that he believed the defendant owed him more, he is bound by express and positive law to pay the costs. If a jury could not find a less sum than 100 dollars for the plaintiff, and compel the defendant to pay the costs, it is not possible the referees could do it; because the verdict and report are placed on the same ground.

There is a difference of expression in the acts of assembly which have been just mentioned, and the act of the 25th of September '1786, which provides, that if any plaintiff shall bring or commence any suit or action in the Supreme Court, and shall not recover thereupon, more than 50/., he shall not be allowed any costs. In the former case, it is always in the power of the plaintiff, to exempt himself from the payment of the costs, by a previous affidavit. Unless he make such affidavit, it. is strictly just he should pay the costs, for wantonly dragging the defendant into a higher tribunal; and this is unquestionably the language of the law.

In England they have no law, that gives equal validity to a report of referees, and to the verdict of a jury, and which compels the plaintiff to pay the costs, in consequence of his neglecting to make affidavit, that the defendant owes him more than a precise sum. Nor have they any references similar to those under our act of assembly. References in Eng-^an<^ under rules of court, are not fettered by positive law, with respect to costs, as they are in Pennsylvania in the case now before us. The costs of action in that country, are therefore discretionary with the referees, and they are equally so here, unless when some restriction is imposed on them by the parties themselves, or by some express law of the land. Unless restricted in one of these modes as to the costs, or unless they are made to abide the event of the suit, the costs of action are always within the submission. Kydon Awards, 134, 135. 154, 155.

Upon the whole, we are clearly of opinion, and have uniformly and frequently so decided, that the legislative restriction with respect to costs, in the case before us, is equally binding on courts, juries and referees; and that neither tribunal can fly in the face of the law and say, the defendant shall pay the-costs, in a precise case, where the legislature have, in express terms declared, the plaintiff shall pay them, It appearing to the court that the plaintiff hath not made the affidavit required bylaw, it is ordered, that judgment be entered for the sum of fifteen dollars without costs.

Judgment for plaintiff, but without costs.