M'Cabe v. Morehead

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Sergeant, J.

Two errors have been assigned in the present case. The first is in admitting the deposition of Cyrenius E. Wykoff, which was received in evidence on the part of the defendant, having been objected to by the plaintiff, who alleged that Wykoff was interested in favour of the defendant, and was therefore an incompetent witness. The court below, it is stated, considered him as indifferent between these parties, and equally liable to either, and therefore a competent witness. We are of opinion that so far as regarded the costs of this suit, he was more interested in the success of the defendant, than that of the plaintiff, and was therefore an incompetent witness. His evidence goes to establish that he sold and delivered the lumber in dispute, to Morehead; and not to M’Cabe. If this be so, although he might possibly be liable to M’Cabe, in case of M’Cabe’s failure here, in an action against him by M’Cabe, for breach of contract, in not delivering lumber according to his engagement; yet he was not liable, so far as respected the claim of M’Cabe to the lumber now in question. Whereas, according to his showing, he would be liable to Morehead, in case of Morehead’s failure in this suit, for the non-delivery of this very lumber. For as every sale and delivery of personal property by one in possession, contains an implied warranty of title, he would stand in relation to More-head as a guarantor of this lumber; and if Morehead lost it by a better title existing in M’Cabe, he would be responsible to More-head for the costs of this suit. We therefore think the court below erred in admitting the deposition of Morehead.

The second error assigned is in the charge of the court. It appears that during the trial of the cause, the parties agreed that the jury might find the value of the property and damages in one sum, which was to settle all further claim to the property. The judge, in his charge, told the jury that in assessing the damages for the taking and detention, they were not confined to the interest upon the. value, but might give more than that amount, if they thought, under all the circumstances, that amount was not sufficient to make the defendant whole, to compensate him for the injury he had sustained. By the above-mentioned agreement of the parties, the case was taken out of the general practice in replevin, which is, that where the property is delivered by the sheriff to the plaintiff in the replevin, on a claim of property, and the plea of property is found for the defendant, he is entitled to a return of the property, and damages for the detention. Easton v. Worthington, (5 Serg. & Rawle 130). These damages ordinarily consist of the interest on the value of the goods when taken, from the time of taking till the judgment rendered. There are, however, cases where the jury may be allowed to give more than this interest. Where a writ of replevin is sued out fraudulently, and without colour of right, the jury would be warranted in giving even exemplary damages, in the same manner as they might do for a wanton or malicious trespass. Brizsee v. Maybee, (21 Wend. 144). Even in trover, which merely complains of a finding and conversion of the property, it was held by the court in Taylor v. Morgan, (3 Watts 334) that the plaintiff may, under circumstances of vexation or oppression in the taking of the property by the defendant, recover more than the value of the property and interest. There is no reason why the defendant in replevin, should not have the same measure of damages, on a verdict finding the plea of property in his favour. But I am not aware that in any other instances the measure of damages has been allowed to exceed the interest. It has been expressly held that the defendant is not entitled to any special damages he has sustained by being interrupted in his business, in consequence of the property being taken from him under the replevin. Brizsee v. Maybee, (21 Wend. 144).

In examining the evidence in the present case, there does not seem to be any thing in the conduct of the plaintiff in taking out the replevin, and claiming and detaining the property, manifesting malice or wanton vexation. Wykoff had made a contract with him to furnish him two rafts of lumber, and although this identical raft would seem never to have been his, but to have been sold and delivered to Morehead, M’Cabe might honestly believe he had a right to it. If so, the payment of the value and interest, and costs of suit, appears to be a sufficient penalty upon him for asserting by legal process, a mistaken claim. The jury ought, however, in assessing the damages, to give Morehead the full value of the articles at the place they were to be delivered, and at the time they were to be so delivered, and the interest on that sum. This is the legal compensation in a case where no wanton, vexatious, oppressive, or culpable conduct on the part of the plaintiff is proved.

Judgment reversed, and venire facias de novo awarded.