Case ID: mass_151/html/0158-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "C. Allen, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

William Purcell vs. Boston, Halifax, and Prince Edward Island Steamship Line.
    Suffolk.
    January 13, 1890.
    February 26, 1890.
    Present: Devens, W. Allen, C. Allen, Holmes, & Knowlton, JJ. '
    
      Filing of Exceptions — Extension of Time — Notice to Adverse Party.
    
    The notice of the filing of exceptions required to be given to the adverse party by the Pub. Sts. c. 153, § 8, is not dispensed with by an extension of the time for filing such exceptions, if he raises the objection before their allowance, and does not waive the omission to give such notice.
    The question whether exceptions, in the absence of notice of filing to the adverse party, were properly allowed, may be presented by the adverse party by a separate bill of exceptions.
    Tort, for personal injuries occasioned to the plaintiff while in the defendant’s employment. At the trial'in the Superior Court, before Thompson, J., the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, on June 5, 1889, and the defendant alleged exceptions to certain rulings of the judge at the trial, which the judge allowed ; and the plaintiff alleged exceptions to the allowance of the defendant’s exceptions. The facts appear in the opinion.
    
      E. J. Hadley, for the plaintiff.
    
      J. TV. Rollins, for the defendant.
   C. Allen, J.

The defendant’s exceptions cannot be entertained and considered, because the defendant failed to give to the plaintiff the notice required by the Pub. Sts. c. 153, § 8. It is there provided that exceptions “ shall be filed with the clerk and notice thereof given to the adverse party . . . within three days after the verdict. . . . For good cause shown, a further time, not exceeding five days unless by consent of the adverse party, may be allowed by the court.” An extension of time was given, which expired on June 13, on which day the defendant filed exceptions, but gave no notice to the plaintiff until June 24. There is no room for the suggestion of the defendant, that, when a further time is allowed, no notice at all need be given to the adverse party. The plaintiff has never waived the omission to give seasonable notice to him, and he raised the objection before the allowance of the exceptions. The giving of the notice seasonably to the adverse party is made essential by the statute, and the plaintiff had a right to insist upon his objection, and under this state of things the court could not properly allow the defendant’s exceptions. Conway v. Callahan, 121 Mass. 165. Spofford v. Loveland, 130 Mass. C.

The usual and sufficient method of presenting a question of this kind is by a certificate of the facts, made by the presiding justice upon the bill of exceptions. Conway v. Callahan, 121 Mass. 165. Browne v. Hale, 127 Mass. 158, 161. But since it was a question of law whether under the circumstances the court had a right to allow the exceptions, the plaintiff might also properly present that question by a separate bill of exceptions, as was done in Cowley v. McLaughlin, 141 Mass. 181, 183. Pub. Sts. c. 153, § 8.

Plaintiff's exceptions sustained.

Defendant's exceptions dismissed.