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3 Ala. 24

Cothran v. Weir

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided June 15, 1841

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1841-06-15

<p>¡1. On appeal from a justice of the peace, the amount of damages laid in the declaration is matter of form, and cannot be looked to to show that the Court had no jurisdiction: that is ascertained by the amount of the recovery.</p>

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently December 1879

4 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1841-06-15

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ORMOND, J.

¶1It is supposed that the justice of the peace had no jurisdiction in this case, because the damages arc laid in the County Court at one hundred dollars. It is the amount of the recovery, and not the sum claimed, which settles the question of jurisdiction. But the amount claimed, both before the justice and in the County Court, was less than fifty dollars, and the actual recovery is twenty dollars. The assertion of damages in the declaration, is mere matter of form, and cannot be looked to, to ascertain whether the Court have jurisdiotion or not.

¶2Let the judgment be affirmed.

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