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19 Tex. 137

Yates v. Collins

Texas Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1857

Texas Supreme Court · decided 1857-07-01

Error from Rusk. Tried below Ipefore the Hon. William W. Morris. The defendant in error recovered judgment against Archibald Dixon before a Justice of the Peace for $30. Dixon obtained a certiorari, giving bond with the plaintiffs in error as his sureties in the sum of $100. In the District Court, the defendant in error obtained a verdict for $50, on which judgment was rendered against Dixon and his sureties for the $50 and the costs of the suit.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1912

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1857-07-01

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Wheeler, J.

¶1It is a clear principle, that the liability of a surety can not be extended beyond the actual terms of his engagement-. This principle is applicable generally to all cases -of suretyship, and embraces the case of the sureties in an appeal •or certiorari bond. They are not parties to the suit, and so liable for costs; but their liability arises upon their undertaking for their principal. To the extent of the obligation of their bond, therefore, they are liable, but not beyond it. Though costs may be said to follow the judgment as an incident, and consequence of the litigation, the party to the suit, or principal, is alone primarily liable for them. The liability of the sureties is secondary, arising upon their undertaking. To that extent they are liable, but no further. The judgment was rendered against the principal and sureties for the debt and all costs of suit. That would be right, if the debt and -costs did not exceed the amount of the bond : but as they did, a greater sum was adjudged against the sureties than they were liable for upon their undertaking. This was error. The judgment should have been rendered against the sureties for the debt and so much costs only as, in the aggregate, would not exceed the amount of their bond. The judgment, as to the sureties must be reversed, and such judgment here rendered as the Court below ought to have rendered.

¶2Reversed and reformed.

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