Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

3 Va. 191

Thornton v. Corbin

Court of Appeals of Virginia

Decided April 17, 1802

Court of Appeals of Virginia · decided 1802-04-17

This was a motion to set aside an order of this Court, for dismissing an appeal by Thornton from a decree of the High Court of Chancery. The facts were, that Mr. Marshall had been retained as counsel for the appellant before his appointment to the office of Chief Justice;* but, had omitted to mark himself on the docket, or to inform the gentleman who was to finish his business. In consequence of which the appeal was dismissed, at April term 1801, for want of prosecution.

Decided 1802-04-17

LYONS, Judge,

¶1delivered the resolution of the Court. That whatever might be their opinion in other cases of this kind, in the present instance, they were clearly of opinion that Thornton had not made such a case as should entitle him to have his cause re-docketed. For, he does not shew that he was under any surprise, or that he gave himself any trouble about the matter. It is only stated that Mr. Footes applied; but by what authority, or why application was not made to counsel, after Mr. Marshall left the bar, does not appear.

¶2Rule to be discharged.

¶3*194Call, then moved, that the order might be suspended, until the arrival of Mr. Bootes, to see if the defect of evidence, as to the surprise, could not be supplied; and read the certificate of Mr. Marshall, in these words: “I am told that it is questioned whether I was employed for Thornton, in the Court of Appeals, from the Court of Chancery. I was employed, and certainly should have appeared, had I been present when the case was called. I had not received the fee, but attributed that entirely to my being so frequently from home, and certainly felt no difficulty on that account with Col. Thornton. I did not think, from my idea of the state of the docket, that the cause could have been heard so soon, as I understood it was dismissed; but I really thought I had been marked?’

PER CUR.

¶4That is not sufficient. Mr. Thornton ought to have applied to counsel himself, after Mr. Mar shall's appointment.

¶5Rule discharged.*

¶6[* See Post, 232, S.C.]

/3/va/191 · .json · Public domain