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97 Ark. 424

Smith v. Taylor

Supreme Court of Arkansas

Decided January 30, 1911

Supreme Court of Arkansas · decided 1911-01-30

Meeks, Judge; The circuit court had no original jurisdiction of this cause,, and should have sustained the demurrer to the complaint.

Relies on Koch v. Kimberling · Stanley v. Bracht

reversed · Decided 1911-01-30

McCulloch, C. J.

¶1This is an action instituted by appellee against appellant in the circuit court of Sharp County, Northern-District, to recover the sum of one hundred dollars alleged to be-dire as damages resulting from -the alleged breach by appellant of his contract with appellee employing the latter as his agent to sell a certain tract of land. Appellee recovered judgment below for $25.

¶2The Constitution (art. 7, § 40) provides that justices of" the peace shall have original jurisdiction “exclusive of the circuit court in all matters of contract where the amount in controversy does not exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, excluding interest.” It 'has been held by this court that the term “matters-of contract” embraces an action for unliquidated damages when, the action is founded upon a contract. Stanley v. Bracht, 42 Ark. 210; Koch v. Kimberling, 55 Ark. 547.

¶3It follows that the circuit court had no jurisdiction of the cause of action set forth in the complaint. Therefore the.judgment is reversed, and the cause dismissed.

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