Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

12 N.H. 246

Stevens v. Williams

Superior Court of New Hampshire

Decided December 15, 1841

Superior Court of New Hampshire · decided 1841-12-15

In Equity-. The bill alleged and charged, that an action in favor of the plaintiff, against the defendant, was pending in the court of common pleas, founded on two promissory notes of the defendant — that the defendant had filed a set-olf, and was attempting to use, in his defence, a receipt signed by the plaintiff, dated long before the first note, for the sum of $>500, to be accounted for, and sought to obtain judgment for the balance — that the receipt was given as…

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1933

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1841-12-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Parker. C. J.

¶1It is not necessary, in this case, to settle the question, whether, under the statute giving this court equitable jurisdiction in all cases of fraud, trust, accident, and mistake, we can entertain a bill for discovery merely, in aid of the prosecution, or of the defence of a suit at law, which involves some of those matters.

¶2This bill, although it prays for a discovery, is not a bill for discovery alone. Milford's Eq. Pleading [16] 39; 2 Story’s Eq. 1, 700; Story's Eq. Pl. 252. It charges a fraudulent attempt to use a certain receipt of which the defendant has possession, in defence of the plaintiff's suit at law, and for the purpose of obtaining a judgment against the plaintiff, on the defendant’s set off — sets forth divers particular matters relating to the receipt, prays that the defendant may discover the truth relative to them, that he may be restrained by injunction from using the receipt, and that the plaintiff may have such other relief as is suited to his case. If the facts set forth are true, the defendant may not only be restrained from using the receipt to defeat the plaintiff’s suit, but a decree may be entered requiring him to deliver it up to be cancelled.

¶3The defendant does not allege any objection to any particulars of the discovery sought by the bill, and the bill being one for relief against fraud, as well as for discovery, the jurisdiction of the court is clear, and the demurrer must be overruled. 2 N. H. Laws 75; 1 Story's Eq. Jur. 82; 2 Story's Eq. 7, 10; Story's Eq. Pl. 256, 257, 420; Tappan vs. Evans, (11 N. H. Rep. 325.)

/12/nh/246 · .json · Public domain