The San Francisco call., 1908-04-12
COURT TO EXPEDITE
SUITS FOR DAMAGES
Judges Discuss Suggested Re-
forms in Proceedings to Re-
cover for Personal Injuries
Committee Will Report on the
Amendments TO Rules Re-
garding Delays in Trials

The judges OF the superior court met
yesterday and discussed the suggested
reforms OF court rules for obv;ating In
ordinate delays in the trial OF per-
sonsl injury damage suits A commit
tee comprising Judges Murasky, Hunt
end Graham was appointed TO consider
The matter IN all its bearings and to
report proposed amendments OF the
rules 10 a full meeting of the judges
next Friday. From the expressions
dropped by judges after yesterday s
meeting II is believed that some at
least Of the suggestions made by At
torney stephen Costello and the deputa-
tion TO Presiding Judge Sttatevant
from the San Francisco labor council
viii be adopted.
The following judges attended the
meeting: Sturtevant, Hunt Lawlor.
cook Graham. Murasky, Seawell and
1ogsn. Practically all Of the judges
ooncurred in the wisdom OF making II
less easy for parties in damage suits 10
obtain cOntinuances.
WANT REASONS FOR DELAY
Judge Sturtevant suggested that in
sll cases where an attorney asked for
sn extension of time TO plead or an
an affidavit giving satisfactory reasons.
Under present conditions a lawyer has
merely 10 ask for an extension of time
without assigning reasons, and II there
s. no objection from the other side the
delay is granted simply because it is
asked for. The new rule favored by
the judges will mean that attorneys
must give A good reason under oath
when asking for more time than Is al
lowed them By the law.
While IL is not probable that DANA ge
cases viii, as asked by the labor coun-
Gil deputation. be distributed among
all the nine civil departments, the
Judges were agreed that two or three
departments should be asked TO try
them, in addition to the Inree 70 which
they are now assigned-thOse of Judges
Murasky, Hunt and Sturtevant. Al
though nothing was decided, it is prob
able that Judge Buck who is sitting for
Judge Hebbard; Judge Graham and one
other viii take a proportion Of this
class OF cases. Some OF the causes
which have been assigned to Judges
Hunt, Murasky and Sturtevant, and
which occupy unfavorable positions on
the calendars Of those judges, may be
reassignod.
BURDEN OF JURY FEES
Objection was found by some Of the
judges 10 amending the rules so that
the party insisting upon Jury trial
should be compelled TO pay jury and re-
porters' fees. amounting 10 ss4 a day
The oeputation to Judge Sturtevant
pointed out that the rule as st operates
now. placing on the plaintiffs shoul-
ders this heavy expenditure, practically
precludes many manned persons who
have good cases but empty pockets
from securing legal redress. It was
pointed out, however. that the right TO
a jury trial IS a constitutional right
and that defendant would claim he
was being penalized IL he were forced
10 pay the fees because he refused to
waive his right. This is matter
which viii be inquired into by the
committee: and If under the law relief
can be afforded poor plaintiffs IN dam
age cases the rules will be amended
Copies of the rules in vogue in Los
Angeles and other counties have been
obtained and viii be used by the COM
mittee in drawing up its report