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8 Rob. 253

Hazard v. Boykin

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Decided June 15, 1844

Supreme Court of Louisiana · decided 1844-06-15

The case must be remanded for further proceedings, judgment having been rendered without the cause having been set down for trial, either regularly, or by consent. Code of Pract. arts. 533, 535, 463. Acts of 1841, p. 17, s. 16, 6 Mart. N. S. 635. 3 Robinson, 370. Judgment should have been rendered only on the exception. Code of Pract. arts. 344, 536, 606, 532, 419, 491, 492, 494, 495.

Decided 1844-06-15

Martin, J.

¶1The defendant resisted the plaintiff’s claim, on the ground that since it accrued, the defendant has sought for and obtained a discharge from all his debts, from the Court of the United States for the district of Alabama, which discharge is pleaded in bar to the present suit.

¶2The plaintiff impeaches the certificate and discharge of the defendant ; and avers, that they were obtained in error and fraud, he having fraudulently made payments, given securities, conveyances and transfers of his property, and made agreements, in con*254templation of bankruptcy, and for the purpose of giving certain creditors, endorsers and sureties, preference and priority over his general creditors, and over the plaintiff.

¶3The defendant excepted to this impeachment as too vague, indefinite, and general, not specifying what particular error or fraud is complained of. There is also an exception to the jurisdiction of the court.

¶4The court sustained the exception of the defendant to the plaintiff ’s impeachment of his certificate and discharge; did not act on the plea to its jurisdiction; and gave judgment absolutely for the defendant. In our opinion, the judge erred. We admit the impeachment was too vague, general, and indefinite, not affording the defendant any knowledge of any particular fact, as to which it was necessary he should prepare himself with evidence in order to disprove any charge which the plaintiff might attempt to substantiate; but the opportunity ought to be reserved to the plaintiff to establish his pretensions in another suit.

¶5It is, therefore, ordered, that the judgment be annulled and reversed, and that ours be for the defendant, as in case of nonsuit; the plaintiff paying the costs below, and the defendant those of the appeal.

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