Stout v. McMasters

¶1This action was commenced in a justice’s court, to recover for injuries done by the defendant’s sheep to a field of growing wheat. The plaintiff recovered $6.25 as damages. Thedefend-.ant appealed to the district court upon questions of law alone, where, for error in the reception of the evidence of a witness (Arnold) as to ■the amount of the injury, the judgment of the justice was reversed. The plaintiff then appealed to this court, and here the assignments •of error present only the question whether the district court ought not to have modified the judgment of the justice, so as to allow nominal damages, instead of reversing it.

¶2It seems to us that there was but little merit in the defendant’s *186appeal to the district court, notwithstanding the error referred to... There was no dispute as to the trespass. In view of the amount of the verdict, the objectionable testimony of the witness Arnold cannot, have very seriously enhanced the recovery. We think there was no other prejudicial error in the case.

¶3Neither do we see any substantial merit in the assignments of' error upon which this appeal is presented by the plaintiff. There-was no really contested right of property involved, in respect to which, it could be important for the plaintiff to recover nominal damages. If, upon an appeal in an action prosecuted for the recovery of substantial damages, it should be considered that the judgment could not stand on account of error in the trial affecting the amount of the-recovery, the plaintiff’s right to renew the action should not be barred,. without his consent, by a modified judgment for nominal damages. There was no error, then, in reversing, instead of thus modifying,, the judgment. But, as the appellant now claims that the judgment-of the justice should have-been thus modified, rather than reversed,, and since such a course will terminate a litigation which must be unprofitable alike to both parties, the judgment of the district court will be modified so as to modify the judgment of the justice of the-peace, reducing the recovery of damages to six cents, but no costs-will be allowed upon this appeal.