Sullivan v. Baxter
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Tort. The declaration alleged, in substance, that the plaintiff, in a former action brought by him against the defendant for the conversion of a derrick, recovered judgment for the value of the derrick only, which judgment Was satisfied; that by a mistake he failed to aver and claim in that action certain special damages which resulted from the conversion, namely, the loss of profits from a valuable contract which he had, and which was thereby seriously interfered with, and…
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Tort. The declaration alleged, in substance, that the plaintiff, in a former action brought by him against the defendant for the conversion of a derrick, recovered judgment for the value of the derrick only, which judgment Was satisfied; that by a mistake he failed to aver and claim in that action certain special damages which resulted from the conversion, namely, the loss of profits from a valuable contract which he had, and which was thereby seriously interfered with, and from workmen employed by him on such contract; and that he was entitled to recover such special damages in this action.…
1Opinion of the CourtField, J.
The conversion of the derrick by the defendant was a single wrongful act, for which only one action could be maintained. The plaintiff, having taken judgment in the former action for this conversion, cannot maintain the present action, because the cause of action is the same and the parties are the same as in the former action. The plaintiff could have alleged and proved in the former action any special damages which he was entitled to recover, and special damages do not constitute a separate cause of action. Trask v. Hartford New Haven Railroad, 2 Allen, 331. Folsom v. Clemence, 119 Mass.…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Folsom v. ClemenceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1876
- McCaffrey v. CarterMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1878
- Knowlton v. New York & New England RailroadMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1888
3Cited by8 opinions
- Sandler v. SilkMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1935
- Bliss v. New York Central & Hudson River RailroadMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1894
- Magaw v. BealsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1930
- Clare v. New York & New England RailroadMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1898
- Cole v. Bay State Street Railway Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1916
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