Case ID: kan_2/html/0392-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Crozier, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

George Reedy v. Peter Gift, et al.
    
    
      Error from Marshall County.
    
    In an action before a justice on a replevin bond where defendant moved for a dismissal of tho action on grounds not appearing on tho faco of tho papers, hold that if any of the grounds sot forth are sufficient for a dismissal such ground would bo sufficient as a ploa in bar; and if sustained by proof would bo a complete bar to another suit.
    Where tlie record shows a judgmontán such case for defendant of dismissal with costs, it is to be presumed that the magistrate has sufficient proof to sustain it; that suoli would bo in effect a trial and judgment upon tho. merits, disposing of the cause of action, and appealable from to the District Court.
    On appeal of such action to tho District Court by plaintiff below, who filed, together with tho transcript and papers, a sufficient petition and prooipo for summons, which was issued and served on defendant who appeared in tlie caso, a ground for dismissing tho appeal, 11 that tho petition does not stato facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action on appeal,” held untenable; semble, such objection should be taken advantage of by demurrer. Tho way to obviate an objection “that the record of the justice is defec. tive in substance and form, is by suggesting a diminution of tho record.”
    In such case in the District Court where tho defendant answered to said petition and tho plaintiff replied, a subsisting right of action on the bond, of which the District Court had original jurisdiction, existed, and the proceeding was valid as, in effect, the commencement of a new action. Semble, the dismissal of tho appeal would not have prevented a judgment unless pleaded.
    Soctino 526 of tho Civil Code gives power to tho Supreme Court to review a judgment of tho District Court, dismissing an appeal from a justice’s judgment of dismissal, whore the costs of appeal are adjudged by the District Court against tho appellant.
    The “ petition on appeal ” filed in the District Court on the appeal of this case by plaintiff, set forth: “ The said plaintiff, George Needy, complains of Mary Miller, Peter Gift, and A. Taught, for that on the 21st day of February, A. D. 1863, they executed their certain bond in an action of replevin then pending before William P. Hess, a justice of the peace for Marysville township, Marshall County, Kansas, in an action of replevin, wherein Mary Miller was plaintiff and George Needy was defendant, which bond was then and there approved by George D. Swearinger, Sheriff of Marshall County, Kansas, which had a condition thereunder written in the words and figures following, to-wit: (reciting the condition of the bond in form required by statute,) all of which will more fully appear by reference to a copy of the bond hereto attached and made a part of this petition.
    And the said George Needy, plaintiff, further complains that on the trial of said cause before John L. Laclair, a justice of the peace for Marysville township, Marshall County, Kansas, on the 1st day of June 1863, wherein Mary Miller was plaintiff and George Needy was defendant, the said Mary Miller failed to prosecute her action to effect, and to return the property -when it was adjudged to be returned, and pay all costs and damages which were awarded .against her, and that this plaintiff, George Needy, obtained a judgment by tbe consideration of John'L. Laclair, justice, of the peace aforesaid, against tbe said Mary Miller, for tbe sum of one hundred dollars on tbe 1st day of June, A. D. 1863, as aforesaid. And after-wards, to-wit: on tbe 3d day of June 1863, this plaintiff caused an execution to be issued by said Jobn L. Laclair, a justice of tbe peace aforesaid, by whom tbe said judgment was rendered against tbe said Mary Miller, and directed to James Gray, constable for Marysville township, Marshall County, Kansas, and tbe said constable after-wards, to-wit: on tbe 26th day of June, A. D. 1863, returned said execution to tbe justice John L. Laclair, with tbe following return endorsed thereon: “ Received this writ at 1 o’clock P. M. on tbe 3d day of June, A. L>. 1863. I hereby certify that after dilligent search I can find no goods or chattels of Mary Miller in Marshall County, Kansas, whereon to levy. Given under my band this 26th day of June, A. D. 1863. (Signed) James Gray, Constable. Wherefore,” &c.
    Other facts in tbe case appear in tbe opinion of tbe Court.
    The case was argued in Supreme Court by John Martin for plaintiff in error, and by W. W. Guthrie for defendants in error, each submitting briefs, making points respectively, as follows:
    
      Elmore cmd Ma/rUn for plaintiffs in error, submitted:
    If tbe Court was correct in dismissing tbe appeal, it can only be on tbe first ground assigned in tbe motion. Tbe second ground assigned, is certainly no ground for dismissing tbe appeal. It may be a good motion to go to tbe merits of the cause of action assigned in tbe petition, but furnishes no ground for dismissing cm appeal. And tbe same objection exists as to tbe third ground assigned. If that was good for any purpose at that stage of tbe proceedings, it was for a diminution of the record in the case. The Court was not warranted in dismissing the appeal. 15 Ohio Reports, p. 558.
    As a general proposition there are only two classes of reasons for dismissing an appeal:
    1st. For some irregularity in perfecting the appeal, and 2d, cases from which appeals are not allowed.
    The appeal in this case was regular in all the particulars required by law. Gamp. Laves 1862,y?. 634, Seos. 104-105, and 106.
    The only proposition then to examine is, “"Was the judgment such as could be appealed from ? Appeals are allowed in all cases under Sec. 103 of the Justices Act, (Comp. Laws, p. 634,) not otherwise specially provided for, and we must resort to Sec. No. 115 of the Justices Act to find the exceptions, (Comp. Z., p. 636) and this case is certainly not included in any of the cases mentioned in this section, and therefore subject to appeal.
    But is the judgment in this case a final judgment, as contemplated by Section 103 ? The action of the Court was “ a final determination of the rights of the parties in this action, within Sec. 186 of the Code. We draw a distinction between a determination of the rights of the parties in the cause of action, and the rights of the parties in an action, and think this the proper distinction. The rights of the parties were certainly determined in this pan'ticula/r action. The judgment.for costs is without doubt a final judgment; for after the commencement of the suit, the costs of the suit is as much a part of the rights and liabilities of the parties in the action, as the original cause of action.
    Suppose, however, as a general proposition, judgment-for costs and orders of dismissal are not such judgments as can be appealed from. The ground upon which the justice dismissed the appeal goes directly to the merits of the action, and absolutely determined the rights of- the parties in the cause or basis of action, and is a final determination of the rights of the parties in the cause of action. The motion is in effect, and substantially a plea in bar or a demurrer, and must be so treated. It was treated so by the Court and by the parties, whether properly or improperly is immaterial. And the Court heard and determined the matter as fully and completely as it could have been determined by a jury or the Court in an actual trial on the merits or by demurrer. And if so treated either as a plea in bar or a demurrer, the judgment or order is unquestionably a final judgment. 3 JBouviers Ins., 525, 526; 2 Tidds Proa., 129-130.
    The District Comt would have either appellate or concurrent jurisdiction. Gomp. Irnos, p. 451, Seo. 1, p. 233, Sec. 564; case of Wooster v. McKinly, Sup. Gt., of Kan., 1 Kan., p. 311.
    If either, then the defendants were estopped from making this motion to dismiss the appeal after having answered in the'District Court. 9ih Ohio S., 498; 1th id. 233; 15 id. 483.
    If the District Court however, has only appellate juris, diction and would have jurisdiction over the subject-matter by appeal, it is immaterial whether the judgment was such as cordd be appealed from or not. As a matter of fact if the , appeal was rightfully or wrongly taken and the parties came in and filed. their pleadings or appearance to the action, they cannot after this make a motion to dismiss for want of jurisdiction or for the reason that the judgment was such as could not be appealed from. .
    If, howhver, we are still wrong, we say the Court had no right to give judgment for costs in the case, and the Court having so entered ■£, judgment in this case it is error. 15 Ohioj 488; 8 Ohio State, 210.
    
      W. W. Guthrie, for defendants in error, submitted:
    The .real question how at issue, is, did the Court below err ix} holding that Justice Manning, in dismissing thi action in Ms Comt, rendered no final judgment,—not as to whether the justice erred in so doing.
    If the justice erred, the plaintiff had his remedy in error.
    He sought only the remedy of an appeal;—had he such a remedy?
    Sec. 103, {Stat. 1862, p. 634) gives this remedy if it exists at all: “ Either party may appeal from the final judgment of any justice.”
    A final judgment is such as Sec. 380 (p. 186) specifies:
    “ The final determination of the rights of the parties in an action.”
    The construction of this section was given in the case of Evans v. Hes, 7 Ohio St. Rep. p. 235, wherein the Court says, that “ an order dismissing a case for defect or irregularity of process, pr in the service of process, and in no way founded on or passing upon the allegations of the parties in their pleadings, cannot be considered a final judgments
    
    This case having been dismissed by the Court, is not properly pending,—no final judgment was rendered, therefore the. District Court had no jurisdiction in the premises. See also p. 235; 10 0. St. 12., pp. 622-623.
    12 John. Chan. R., 507, as to what is final judgment; 1 Abbot’s N. Y. Dig., p. 126, notes 12, 14, 25, judgments for costs not a final judgment.
    Filing of pleadings in District Cóurt did not give jurisdiction.
    District Court had no jurisdiction over case. Stat. 1862, p. 454, See. 1.
   JBy the Court,

Crozier, O. J.

One Mary Miller brought a suit in replevin before John S. Lucklin, a justice of the peace, against George Reedy, the plaintiff in error, for the recovery of a sorrel mare. The writ' was served and the property delivered to Mrs. Miller, who executed a bond in the ordinary form, with Gift and Taught, the defendants in error, as her sureties. Mrs. Miller failed to prosecute her action, and judgment was rendered against her for one hundred dollars and costs; upon which judgment execution was issued and returned, “ no goods.” Suit was then brought by Eeedy before E. 0. Manning, a justice of the peace, against Mrs. Miller, Gift and Taught, upon the replevin bond. A very full bill of particulars was filed by Eeedy, setting out the foregoing facts. Mrs. Miller was not served. Gift and Taught filed a motion to dismiss, setting out,

1st. There was no judgment in the action of replevin, because the justice who pretended to render the judgment had not filed a bond ’ with a revenue stamp upon it, nor was there a revenue stamp upon his oath of office.

2d. The constable who served the writ was not a constable, having failed to file a bond and oath of office with revenue stamps thereon.

3d. No order of delivery was issued by the justice.

4th. The execution against Mrs. Miller was returned within thirty days.

5th. Mrs. M. had interest in property belonging to estate of her deceased husband.

6th. The action was not tried at the right time.

7th, No revenue stamp upon the certificate showing when the constable received the wilt.

This motion was sustained, the cause dismissed and judgment rendered against Eeedy for costs. Eeedy thereupon appealed to the District Court. He filed a petition, counting upon the bond and setting out the replevin, the execution of the bond, the judgment, execution and return of “ no goods ” of Mrs. Miller, and asking judgment against her and Gift and Taught, for one hundred dollars and interest, at ten per cent, from June 1st, 1863. This petition was filed Sept. 3d, 1863. On that day a summons was issued which was served on Gift and Taught by the Sheriff. On the 3d of October, Gift alid Taught filed an answer setting out the same matters contained in their motion before the justice to dismiss; and on the same day filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on ■ the grounds, 1st. There was no judgment below from which an appeal coiffd lie. 2d. The petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action on appeal, and 3d. The transcript of the justice was defective in substance and form. Reedy, Oct. 15th, filed reply denying the allegations of the answer. At the succeeding term of the District Court the appeal Was dismissed and a judgment rendered against the plaintiff for costs, to which plaintiff excepted. This petition in error is brought to reverse that judgment.

"Was the judgment of Justice Manning such an one as could be appealed from %

The plaintiff, had filed a very full bill of particulars. The defendant’s motion set up many things which did not appear upon the face of the papers, any one of which if sufficient for a dismissal, was sufficient as a plea in bar, and could not properly be tried without proof, and if sustained by proof, would be a complete bar to another suit for the same cause of action.

We are bound to presume that the magistrate had sufficient proof to warrant the judgment he rendered. Such being the case, it must necessarily have been a trial upon the merits, no matter what it may have been called. It may have been regarded as á motion to dismiss, but it was in fact and effect a trial of the cause of action, and the judgment, although upon its face a judgment of dismissal, is a judgment upon the merits. It finally disposes of the cause of action set out in the bill of particulars, and would be a complete answer to another suit upon that cause of action.

The second ground for dismissal is equally untenable. The petition may not be a good one; and if it be not this would be no ground for dismissing an appeal. It might be a good ground for demurrer, that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, but such never could be a good ground for dismissing an appeal.

The way to obviate the third objection, if -it existed as a matter of fact, was by suggesting a diminution of the record of the justice, and ‘getting an order requiring the magistrate to send up a perfect record of his joroceedings.

Ve thinlc, therefore, that the Court erred in dismissing the appeal. But there is another view of the case which seems to have escaped the observation of Court and counsel. The judgment that was rendered seems to have been regarded as a final disposition of the case. "When the petition was filed, there was, if its allegations be true, a subj sisting right of action.on the bond of which the District Court had original jurisdiction. In legal effect an origin^ al suit had been brought upon that bond; the defendants were in Court by the service of a summons, and had answered, setting up new matter to which there was a reply, ~Was the order of dismissal intended to take this casé with it ? Undoubtedly so, as all parties seem to have regarded the dismissal, not as a dismissal of the appeal alone, but of the whole case. Notwithstanding the judgment, technically considered, the plaintiff had a right to proceed with the case made up by the pleadings. The dismissal of the appeal would not have prevented a judgment in his favor unless pleaded. It was not pleaded.

But the plaintiff has a right to the reversal of the judg•ment of dismissal on the ground that it imposed all the costs of the appeal upon him; and Sec. 526 of the Code as amended, gives us the power to do it.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concurring.