Case Name: Town of Erin Prairie, Respondent, vs. Wells, Appellant
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1914-10-06
Citations: 158 Wis. 140
Docket Number: 
Parties: Town of Erin Prairie, Respondent, vs. Wells, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 158
Pages: 140–142

Head Matter:
Town of Erin Prairie, Respondent, vs. Wells, Appellant.
May 4
October 6, 1914.
Appeal" Orders: Review.
Where no appeal was taken from an order within the time limited, mere error in such order cannot be reached by appealing from an order refusing to set it aside.
Appeal from an order of the circuit court for St. Croix county: E. 0. TIigbee, Judge.
Affirmed.
Plaintiff commenced an action in justice’s court against defendant for encroaching on a highway. Defendant answered that, upon the trial, the title to real estate would come in question, complied with the statutory condition for removal in such cases to the circuit court for trial, and asked for such removal. The motion was denied. The cause was thereafter twice tried in justice’s court before a jury, resulting in a disagreement each time. Upon its regularly coming on for a trial a third time, defendant did not appear, believing the justice did not have jurisdiction. Such proceedings were then had that judgment was rendered in plaintiff’s favor. Defendant appealed, but entitled the papers as in “State of AYisconsin,” instead of Town of Erin Prairie, plaintiff, against the defendant; but correctly described the judgment intended to be appealed from. Pursuant to such appeal the justice certified the papers to the circuit court. The cause was duly placed on the calendar for trial under the incorrect title. Thereafter a stipulation was made, in which the case was entitled as Thomas TIagan et ah, Supervisors of the Town of Erin Prairie, vs. Dan Wells, to the effect that such cause might be placed on the calendar for trial with the right of either party to a continuance without costs. The cause was continued from term to term by consent until March, 1913, when, on 'motion of plaintiff’s attorney, it was dismissed be cause of there not being any casé corresponding to the title in the appeal papers. In the order of dismissal the papers were directed to he returned to the justice of the peace and were so returned. A copy of the order and notice of the entry thereof were duly served on defendant’s attorney. After delay of several months on account of the sickness and death of such attorney, application was made to set aside the order. The motion was denied. This appeal is from the order accordingly entered.
For the appellant there were briefs by 8. N. Hawkins, attorney, and H. A. Loughran, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. Hawkins.
For the respondent there was a brief by McNally ■& Doar, and oral argument by W. F. McNally.

Opinion:
The following opinion was filed May 21, 1914:
Maeshaul, J.
If there were error in dismissing the cause it was one of law, which, after the trial terpi, could be corrected only by appeal. It was not within sec. 2832, Stats.
An order claimed to be erroneous and which has passed the stage of competency for the circuit court to deal with it cannot be reviewed on appeal from an order refusing to set it aside.
By the Gourt. — The order is affirmed.