DAMAGE-CLEER

damage-cleer  (dam-ij  kleer),  n.[fr.  Latin  damna  clericorum  “clerk’s  compensation”]  Hist. A set  fee  payable  by  a  plaintiff  to  the  Court  of  the  Common  Pleas,  King’s  Bench,  or  Exchequer before execution on an award of damages. • The fee — later abolished by statute — was originally a gratuity to the court clerks for preparing special pleadings. It was later abolished by statute. — Also spelled damage cleere. — Also termed damna clericorum. “Damage cleere, damna clericorum, was assessed by the tenth part in the common pleas, and by  the  twentieth  part  in  the  king’s  bench  and  exchequer,  of  all  damages,  exceeding  five  marks, recovered  either  by  verdict,  confession,  or  judgment  of  the  court,  in  all  actions  upon  the  case, covenant, trespass, battery, false imprisonment, dower, and all others, wherein the damages were] uncertain, which the plaintiff was obliged to pay to the prothonotary, or chief officer of that court, wherein they were recovered before he could have execution for them. But this is taken away by 17 Car. 2, c. 6.” Termes de la Ley 141 (1st Am. ed. 1812). [Blacks Law 8th]