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22 Ky. 138

Lewis v. Morton

Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Decided October 27, 1827

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1827-10-27

<p>Bill of review, with injunction, finally dissolved with costs ancl damages, and bill dismissed.</p> <p>Original decree reversed-.</p> <p>The reversal of an original decree, supersedes the necessity of an examination of the bill of review, by thiij court. aaas!? re“an" parties to be dismissed each paying The decree5’ dismissing the bill of re-costs and' damages, in aBlie’ and</p>

Decided 1827-10-27

Chief Justice Bibb

¶1delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶2Lewis, by his petition and bill, set forth causes why he had been prevented from defending a suit in chancery brought by Morton against him, and prayed that the decree might be opened, and his defence permitted, denying the justice of the claim set up by Morton in his bill; he made the bill and proceedings and decree in Morton’s case against him a part of this bill. Having obtained an order staying the execution of that decree, without answer filed by Morton, the order obtained by Lewis for staying the execution of tiie decree against, him was discharged, and his injunction dissolved. Upon application to two of the judges of this court, they were of opinion that the injunction was improperly dissolved, and ordered it to be reinstated; the case came on to be heard, and the court again dissolved the injunction, and dismissed the bill with damages and costs.

¶3It is useless to go into the details of this case. The principal decree sought to be opened, and the whole record of the proceedings were made part of Lewis’ petition and bill. It is the same case which was reversed at the last term of this court, upon a writ of error prosecuted by Lewis, to the decree referred to in this case. This is but an incident. Morton’s bill on which his decree was obtained, was without equity, and as it is already reversed, it is useless in this cause to go into it again.

¶4The question, therefore, about the excuse of Lewis for not defending, has become of no importance, since the reversal of the principal decree, and the dismission of Morton’s bill; neither could it be proper for the court to decree against Lewis damaages upon a claim set up by Morton without justice or equity; nor was it proper to let loose a decree, founded on a bill without equity on its face; nor *139were any damages proper to be decreed upon this dissolution. (Head vs. Perry, 1 Mon. 257.)

Chápese, for plaintiff.

¶5It is therefore ordered and decreed, that the-cree of the circuit court be reversed and annulled, and the cause be remanded with directions to that court, to dismiss the parties to this case, because the reversal of the decree alluded to, has rendered any farther order or decree, upon the matters of this bill and petition wholly useless; and that each party pay his own costs in that court expended.

¶6An cl it is farther ordered and decreed that the defendant pay the complainant his costs in this court expanded.

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