{
  "id": 2711123,
  "name": "Morris Meyers v. Lewis M. Phillips, for use, etc.",
  "name_abbreviation": "Meyers v. Phillips",
  "decision_date": "1874-06",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "460",
  "last_page": "462",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "72 Ill. 460"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill.",
    "id": 8772,
    "name": "Illinois Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
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    "simhash": "1:7611c1ec4c7bd80e",
    "word_count": 981
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:43:15.201732+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Morris Meyers v. Lewis M. Phillips, for use, etc."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. Chief Justice Walker\ndelivered the opinion of the Court:\nThis suit was brought on this instrument:\n\u201c Nashville, III., September 18,1872.\nFor value received, one day after, if I, at any time, become intoxicated or drunlc, or mistreat or abuse Minnie Meyers, I promise to pay L. M. Phillips the sum of- $600, for the use of Minnie Meyers, with 10 per cent interest from maturity until paid. Morris Meyers.\u201d\nPlaintiff in error failed to appear or plead, and a judgment by default was entered, and a reference was made to the clerk to assess and report the damages, which he did, at $600, for which sum judgment was rendered, and to reverse which this writ of error is prosecuted.\nIt is first objected that the court erred in referring the instrument to the clerk to compute the damages.\nThe 40th section of the Practice Act, Sess. Laws 1872, p. 344, provides that, in cases of default, where damages are to be assessed, it shall be lawful for the court to hear the evidence and assess the damages without a jury, but either party may have the assessment made by a jury. It has been held, on a default, under our statute, that, where the assessment rests in computation, a jury is not necessary, but, under verbal agreements, as stated in the common counts, and breaches of contracts declared on in special counts, or, in fact, in all cases where the promise is not in writing, for a specific sum of money, the damages must, on a default, be assessed by the court or a jury.\nIn the first count of this declaration, the instrument is declared on as a note, and it is described according to its legal effect, but there is no averment that plaintiff in error had become intoxicated or drunk, or had mistreated or abused Minnie Meyers, but it simply avers that he thereby became liable to pay the note according to the tenor and effect thereof, and that he promised to pay the same when thereunto requested. This count is not sufficient to sustain the judgment, as it avers no breach. Whilst it describes the note, it shows nothing from which it can be inferred that defendant had become liable.\nThe second is a count for money paid for the use of defendant, for money due on account stated, and for money loaned.\nUnder this count, this instrument was not admissible in evidence, as it is not a note for the unconditional payment of a specific sum of money, and no other instrument is admissible under the money counts.\nThe third count is special, but not on this note. It avers the agreement as it is stated in the note, but it is not referred to in the count. On the default, then, under this count, on assessing damages, proof would be required, as it was not on an instrument in writing for the payment of a specific sum of money, and where the damages may be computed. This being the case, the court erred in referring the assessment of damages to the clerk. It was in violation of the Practice Act, which requires the assessment to be made by the court or jury.-\nIt is objected that this was not a promissory note, and a consideration should have been averred and proved. Piad there been a proper breach in the first count, the note could have been read in evidence under it, as the averment is, that, \u201cfor value received,\u201d he made the promise, and the note states that the promise is made \u201cfor value received.\u201d This is an acknowledgment that the maker had received value for the undertaking, and it imports a sufficient consideration to support the promise.\nThe third count avers that the instrument was given in consideration that Minnie Meyers should dismiss a suit against plaintiff in error, and the breach of his promise not to become intoxicated or drunk, or mistreat or abuse her. We shall not now determine whether that was a sufficient consideration to support the promise, as it was not questioned by a proper plea, and its breach was admitted by the default, and had the court assessed the damages, the judgment would have been sustained.\nThe judgment of the court below is reversed and the cause remanded.\nJudgment reversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. Chief Justice Walker"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Messrs. Vennor, Watts & Forman, for the plaintiff in error.",
      "Mr. P. E. Hosmer, and Mr. L. M. Phillips, for the defendant in error."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Morris Meyers v. Lewis M. Phillips, for use, etc.\n1. Assessment op damages on default. On a default, where the assessment rests in computation, it may be made by the clerk, but in all cases where the promise is not in writing, for a specific sum of money, the damages must be assessed by \"the court\u2019 or a jury.\n2. Pleading\u2014count for money payable upon contingency, must cover the happening of the event. A declaration upon a contract to pay money, if at any time the promisor becomes intoxicated or drunk, which does not contain an averment that he had become intoxicated or drunk, is not sufficient to sustain a judgment by default.\n3. Pleading and evidence\u2014common counts for money. Under the common counts for money paid, for money loaned, and for money due on an account stated, an instrument for the payment of money if the maker should at any time become intoxicated, etc., is not admissible in evidence, nor is any other instrument which is not for the unconditional payment of a specific sum of money.\n4. Consideration. Where a promise to pay money is averred in the declaration to have been made for value received, it will be sufficient proof of a consideration to show a written promise to pay for value received.\nWrit of Error to the Circuit Court of Washington county; the Hon. Silas L. Bryan, Judge, presiding.\nMessrs. Vennor, Watts & Forman, for the plaintiff in error.\nMr. P. E. Hosmer, and Mr. L. M. Phillips, for the defendant in error."
  },
  "file_name": "0460-01",
  "first_page_order": 460,
  "last_page_order": 462
}