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Dufau v. Jean Henry Couprey's Heirs
Citations: 31 U.S. 170; 8 L. Ed. 359; 6 Pet. 170; 1832 U.S. LEXIS 465
Court: Supreme Court of the United States; February 18, 1831; Federal Supreme Court; Federal Appellate Court
In the case of Charles B. Dufau v. Jean Henry Couprey's Heirs, the Supreme Court addressed an appeal from the district court of Louisiana. The plaintiff, Dufau, contested the proceedings, arguing they adhered to Louisiana practice rather than common law. The case involved two issues: one regarding the debt, which was tried by a jury, and another concerning a plea of res adjudicata, which should have been decided by the court. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant without clarifying whether it addressed the res adjudicata issue. Chief Justice Marshall noted that the record did not indicate the res adjudicata plea was submitted to the jury, nor was there any replication or denial regarding it, rendering it immaterial. Consequently, the court could not ascertain that it was ever tried. As there was no error apparent on the record, the judgment of the lower court was affirmed, and costs were awarded to the defendants.