Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

3 Yeates 583

Silvius v. Smith

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided November 15, 1803

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1803-11-15

The plaintiffs declared in special assumpsit, and recovered against the defendant $17^ damages, on a trial. The defendant removed the cause by habeas corpus, and the question arose whether the plaintiffs or defendant should pay the costs ? •

Cited by 1 later decisions (1 by the Supreme Court) — most recently September 1789

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1803-11-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

By the Court.

¶1The act of 20th May 1767, § 3, (1 St. Laws 480) will not govern this point. The act of 5th April 1785, (2 St. Laws 304) was repealed by a temporary law of 19th April 1794, (3 St. Laws 536) and the repealing law by another act, (4 St. Laws 265) and does not expire till the end of the next session. The 1st section thereof extends the jurisdiction of justices of the peace from 5l. to 20l. and directs, that “any „ „ “ person who shall bring any suit or action in other manner [*584 than is provided by the act, in cases cognizable under the “act, and who shall not recover 20l. and more, shall not have “judgment therein for any costs by him expended.”

¶2The plaintiffs therefore should have instituted their suit before a justice of the peace, and having chosen another jurisdiction are not entitled to costs. The same point has been determined in bank within the present year.

¶3Judgment for the plaintiff for the damages without costs.

/3/yeates/583 · .json · Public domain