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3 Va. 52

Rixey v. Ward

Supreme Court of Virginia

Decided November 19, 1824

Supreme Court of Virginia · decided 1824-11-19

Ward brought an action of slander against Rixey, in the- Superior Court of Culpeper, in September, 1819. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, and assessed his damages at @50. On' the next day, the plaintiff moved for a new trial, which was granted by the Court, for reasons appearing to them, without stating what those reasons were.

Decided 1824-11-19

Judge Cabell,

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.*

¶2The Court is of opinion, that the act of Assembly, (1 Rev. Code 510, § 96,) authorises the granting of a new trial, in such an action as this, when the damages found by the jury, are manifestly too small; and that, when a new trial is granted for such cause, it is not necessary to state, on the record, the grounds for awarding it; since it will be presumed, that the order of the Court, upon a subject appearing to be clearly within its jurisdiction, was correct, unless the contrary appear.

¶3The Court is further of opinion, that the judgment in this case, in relation to the costs of the trial, was, in effect, conditional; for, the subject remained completely within the power of the Court; so that, if before the second trial, it had been objected, that the costs had not been paid, the Court might, for that cause, have set aside the former order, and might have entered judgment on the first-verdict.

¶4The judgment is affirmed,.

¶5 Judges Brooke and Coalter, absent.

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