Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

13 Me. 72

Coffin v. Chase

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided April 15, 1836

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1836-04-15

This was an action of trespass on the case brought against the defendant for acting as a deputy sheriff, when be was not such in fact, in the extent of an execution upon land of the plaintiff in June, 1829.

Decided 1836-04-15

¶1The action was continued nisi, and the opinion of the Court afterwards drawn up by

Weston C. J.

¶2We are of opinion, that the seventh section of the additional act respecting sheriffs, statute of 1829, ch. 445, was prospective in its operation, if held to be retrospective, the effect of it would be to revive the authority of deputies, who had been previously discharged, but whose discharge had not been recorded, and to put the whole existing deputation out of office, *74until their appointments were recorded; and thus to leave them without protection for official acts done, before they could be apprized of the existence of the law. This we think the legislature could not have intended. We are accordingly of opinion,, that the defendant had the authority, the exercise of which is complained of in this action. He has therefore no occasion to press his motion to dismiss the action, for the want of a new in-dorser.

¶3Plaintiff nonsuit.

/13/me/72 · .json · Public domain