Allegheny County v. Watt
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Common Pleas of Allegheny county. September 14. This was an appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace, in assumpsit brought by George Watt, the defendant in error, who was a physician, against the county of Allegheny, the plaintiff in error, to recover a compensation for professional services rendered, in making a post mortem examination, as to the causes of death, in two cases, at the request of the coroner.
Read the full summary
Error to the Common Pleas of Allegheny county. September 14. This was an appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace, in assumpsit brought by George Watt, the defendant in error, who was a physician, against the county of Allegheny, the plaintiff in error, to recover a compensation for professional services rendered, in making a post mortem examination, as to the causes of death, in two cases, at the request of the coroner. The justice gave judgment for $30, in favour of the plaintiff; when the defendant appealed to the Court of Common Pleas. By consent of the parties, all matters of…
1Opinion of the CourtGibson, C. J.
Had the plaintiff below attended merely as a witness, though as an expert, he would have been entitled to nothing; for as the law provides no compensation for witnesses summoned by the coroner, they must give their attendance gratis; and to allow the plaintiff, as a wdtness, even the compensation allowed to witnesses in other cases, would be an infraction of the fee-bill. But he was not called as a witness. When the testimony before the inquest was closed, it seems the jurors, being unable to agree as to the cause of the death, requested a post mortem examination, which was made by the…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Commissioners v. HallSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1838
3Cited by8 opinions
- In Re Appointment of Visitors to the Allegheny County HomeSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1933
- McCallister v. Armstrong CountySuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1899
- Webster v. Hopewell BoroughSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1902
- Graham v. Schuylkill CountySuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1901
- Commonwealth v. HaleySupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1948
3 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.