Case ID: ala_20/html/0607-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "D ARGAN, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

HARRINGTON vs. MERIWEATHER.
    1. On tlie trial of an action of assumpsit, a "bill of exceptions whs taken by the plaintiff to the rulings of the court, and the jury also rendered ayerdictin his fayor. On motion of the defendant, a new trial was granted, “ with the understanding that the same be revised, and a bill of exceptions allowed.” The plaintiff filed a transcript of the record in the Supreme Court, without suing out a writ of error, and assigned for error the bill of exceptions. It was held, That the cause should be stricken from the docket, there being no final judgment, and no writ of error.
    Tried before the Hon. Alex. McKinstry, Judge of the City Court of Mobile.
   D ARGAN, C. J.

Noah Harrington brought an action of assumpsit against Meriweather in the City Court of Mobile. Upon the trial, a bill of exceptions was taken to the ruling of the court by the plaintiff, but the jury rendered a verdict in his favor. The defendant moved for a new trial, which was granted by the court, “with the understanding,” as the record informs us, “that the same be revised, and a bill of exceptions allowed.” No writ of error has been issued, but the plaintiff Harrington assigns for error the bill of exceptions taken upon the trial.

It is enough to say, that there is no final judgment in the cause. The grant of the new trial sets aside the verdict and judgmént that had been rendered, and the cause stands in the court below as if no trial had ever been had. No writ of error therefore can be sued out to this court, for it lies only upon a final judgment or decree.

But in this case there is no writ of error, and it seems to be tbe desire of tbe parties, to obtain tbe opinion of tbis court upon a question of law, wbicb may come up upon tbe trial that may hereafter be bad. We only possess tbe power to revise tbe action of tbe court, when'tbe judgment is final; until then, there is nothing to revise.

Let tbe cause be stricken from tbe docket.