{
  "id": 1511737,
  "name": "Meddock v. Williams",
  "name_abbreviation": "Meddock v. Williams",
  "decision_date": "1909-06-21",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "93",
  "last_page": "95",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "91 Ark. 93"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
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  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "76 N. W. 462",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "N.W.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "70 Ark. 308",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "25 S. W. 32",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": -1
    },
    {
      "cite": "44 Ark. 375",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
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        1893435
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/44/0375-01"
      ]
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:22:42.866546+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Meddock v. Williams."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Hart, J.\nOn the 8th day of March. 1907, R. L. Williams brought suit against J. E. Meddock before a justice of the peace for $71.50 for work done in clearing, fencing and cleaning up some land of Meddock.\nMeddock claimed that Williams was to cultivate all lands which he cleared; otherwise that nothing was due him for the clearing and fencing. He further pleaded payment, and also as a setoff an account for supplies alleged to have been furnished Williams by him during the previous year.\nThe trial in the justice\u2019s court resulted in a verdict and judgment in favor of Williams for $34.25. On a trial de novo in the circuit court, Williams interposed a plea of the statute of limitations to the setoff claimed by Meddock.\nThere was a jury trial and a verdict in favor of Williams for $25. From the judgment entered thereon Meddock has appealed to this court.\nHis counsel assigns as error the action of the court in allowing Williams to plead the statute of limitations for the first time in the circuit court. We hold, that this was not error.\nSec. 1314 of Kirby\u2019s Digest provides that appeals from all inferior courts to the circuit court shall be tried de novo.\nSec. 4682 provides that \u201cthe same cause of action, and no other, that was tried before the justice shall be tried in the circuit court on appeal, and no setoff shall be pleaded that was not pleaded before the justice, if the summons was served on the person of the defendant.\u201d\nIn construing these two sections in the case of Texas & St. Louis Railway v. Hall, 44 Ark. 375, Chief Justice Cockriee, speaking for the court, said: \u201cIf there had been no answer at all in the justice\u2019s court, the defendant could not be precluded from making defense to the action in the circuit court on appeal. The circuit court may permit amendments and allow new issues to be made, keeping clear of new causes of action and setoffs not presented in.the justice\u2019s court.\u201d\nThis is conclusive of the question. Manifestly, the plea of the statute of limitations is neither a new cause of action nor a setoff.\nIn the re-direct examination of the plaintiff by Mr. Block, one of his attorneys, appears the following:\nQ. \u201cThis man Reed, I will ask you if that is the same man that Jim (referring to the defendant) had called as a witness in your case?\u201d A. \u201cYes, sir.\u201d Mr. Huddleston: \u201cWe object.\u201d Mr. Block: \u201cI am going to show that this man Reed is one of Jim\u2019s paid witnesses in any lawsuit that he has had.\u201d\nCounsel for defendant assigns as error the action of the court in permitting Mr. Block to make the remarks above quoted in the presence of the jury, but counsel is in no attitude to complain of this because he did not make any objection thereto. It will be seen from an examination of the record on this point that counsel did not object to the remarks of opposing counsel of which he now complains; but that his objection was to the question that preceded the remarks.\nCounsel for the defendant also assigns as error'the action of the court in permitting certain questions to be asked witnesses. In each instance objections were made to the questions, and the objections were sustained. The objections to the questions having been sustained, we do not think any prejudice resulted to the' defendant from the form in which they were asked.\nCounsel for defendant also insists that the court erred in its instructions to the jury. After a careful examination of them, we are of the opinion that the instructions fully presented the respective theories of the parties, and fairly submitted the issues made by the pleadings and evidence.\nFinding no prejudicial error in the record, the judgment is affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Hart, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Huddleston & Taylor, for appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Meddock v. Williams.\nOpinion delivered June 21, 1909.\n1. Appeal prom justice op the peace \u2014 pleadings.\u2014Where a cause is appealed from a justice\u2019s court -to the circuit court, the defendant may-in the latter court plead the statute of limitations for the first time. (Page 94-)\n2. Trial \u2014 remarks op counsel \u2014 objection.\u2014-Appellant cannot complain of remarks of opposing counsel which were not objected to in the lower court. (Page 94.)\nAppeal from Greene Circuit Court; Prank Smith, Judge;\naffirmed.\nHuddleston & Taylor, for appellant.\n1. Statutes of limitation must be pleaded -even before a justice of the peace. 25 S. W. 32; 3 Id. 3, 7.\n2. It was an error to submit to the jury the wrong issue, and refuse the right one, viz, that plaintiff was to cultivate the land he cleared.\n3. While no pleadings (written) were necessary, if a party-elected to plead in writing he is bound thereby, and it was error to permit plaintiff to testify about twelve days\u2019 labor.\n4. The improper conduct and language of counsel for plaintiff, without rebuke by the court, is sufficient for reversal. 70 Ark. 308; 63 Id. 174; 76 N. W. 462."
  },
  "file_name": "0093-01",
  "first_page_order": 113,
  "last_page_order": 115
}