Scottish Court of Session Decisions

Subject_1 JURISDICTION.
Subject_2 DIVISION IV.

Jurisdiction of the Court of Session.
Subject_3 SECT. VI.

Criminal Jurisdiction of the Court of Session.

Alexander Mair
v.
James Shand

Date: 14 July 1778
Case No. No 136.

The Court sustained its competency to an action on a battery, ad civilem offectum, in the first instance.

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Mair brought an action against Shand for a battery on his person, concluding for damages, and L. 50 as a solatium for wounds and bruises he had sustained.

Shand objected to the competency of the Court.—When the Sheriff, who has a proper criminal jurisdiction in riots and batteries, awards only a fine, the Court may review the sentence, because the matter then becomes properly civil.—But the Court have no jurisdiction to try these delicts in the first instance; Erskine, B. 1. t. 3. § 21.; Alvis contra Maxwell, 4th March 1707, Fountainhall, No 113. p. 7403.

The present action is not merely rei persecutoria, for the expense of curing wounds. A large sum, in solatium, is demanded. The Court, therefore, is required to inflict a penalty on account of a crime.

Answered for the pursuers; The Court is competent to every action brought ad civilem effectum, though founded on facts of a criminal nature, as in assythment for murder, reparation for damages done by theft, robbery, and damages by a battery, as well as any other injury.

The authorities founded on apply only to the case where the action is brought ad vindictam publicam, and for punishment; but the competency of the Court to an action ad civilem effectum, is laid down by Erskine, B. I. t. 3.; and Bankton, B. 4. t. 7. p. 29.

The conclusion for a solatium is entirely of a civil nature, being only in reparation of the injury to the private party.

The Court 'found the action competent before this Court.'

Act. Erskine. Alt. Hay. Fol. Dic. v. 3. p. 346. Fac. Col. No 32. p. 53.