100 U.S. 444 - Pierce v. Wade

This was a suit in replevin brought by Pierce and Reed, the plaintiffs, in error, against Wade to recover a large number of cattle branded in a particular way. In executing the writ, the marshal, by mistake, took from the defendant sixty-two head of Texas steers, not having the proper brand, and delivered them with the other cattle to the plaintiffs, on receiving the requisite bond. On the trial, it was found that the plaintiffs were the owners, and entitled to the immediate possession of all thus delivered over to them, except the Texas steers, taken by mistake. It was thereupon adjudged that they 'have and recover from the said defendant the possession of all the cattle, . . . except sixty-two head of Texas steers;' and, as to these, it was adjudged that they be returned by the plaintiffs to the defendant, or if that could not be done, 'that the defendant have and recover from the plaintiffs the said sum of $1,400, the value thereof.' From that judgment the plaintiffs below have taken this writ of error.

Upon this state of facts it is clear we have no jurisdiction. The matter in dispute is the sixty-two head of Texas steers, the value of which is only $1,400. The plaintiffs recovered every thing else which they claimed, and the judgment against them is less than $5,000. We have always held that when a case is brought here by the defendant below, the amount of the recovery against him is the measure of our jurisdiction, except when he has asked affirmative relief, and that has been denied. The same rule is applicable to plaintiffs in replevin suits, where the defendant gets judgment for a return of property taken and delivered under the writ, or its value.

Writ of error dismissed.

NOTE.—In Pierce v. Tough, error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Kansas, submitted by the same counsel as was the preceding case, MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE remarked that, as the judgment was for $2,000 only, the case was in all material respects like that of Pierce v. Wade (supra, p. 444), and that, for the reasons there stated, the writ would be dismissed.

So ordered.