Case Name: H. G. HERNDON v. THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1897-09
Citations: 121 N.C. 498
Docket Number: 
Parties: H. G. HERNDON v. THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY.
Judges: Fukches, J.: I concur in the dissenting opinion.
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 121
Pages: 498–501

Head Matter:
H. G. HERNDON v. THE NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY.
Practice■ — ■Motion in Supreme Court for New Trial — Notice— Costs.
1. Inasmuch as the granting or refusing in this Court a new trial for newly discovered evidence is a matter of discretion resting upon the peculiar circumstances of each case and not a matter of law, so as to establish a precedent for future guidance, the Court will not discuss the facts hut simply grant or refuse the motion
2. Where a motion in this Court for a new trial, for newly discovered testimony, is contemplated, notice of such motion, with a copy of the affidavit relied upon, should be served upon the opposite party at least ten days before the beginning of the call of the District to which the cause belongs.
S3. Inasmuch as heretofore there lias been no precedent requiring ten days notice of a motion for a new trial because of newly discovered testimony, and the appellee having liad time to file counter affidavits, and having done so, the motion will not be denied for failure to serve such notice.
4. When a new trial is granted on motion in this Court, for newly discovered evidence, the costs in this Court will fall on the party making the motion, unless in exceptional cases and for special reasons.
Dorm,as, J., dissents arguendo, in which Fuhouks, J., joins.
ActioN for damages tried before Timberlake, J., and a jury at June ^Special)- Term, 1897, of Durham Superior Court. There was a verdict for the plaintiff and from the judgment thereon defendant, appealed. In this Court a motion was made for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence.
Mews. Boone & Bryant and Winston & Fuller, for plaintiff.
Mr. F. H. Busbee, for defendant (appellant).

Opinion:
Clark, J.:
The granting or refusing in this Court a new trial for newly discovered evidence, being a matter of discretion, resting upon the peculiar circumstances of each case, and not a matter of law from which a precedent can he laid down for future guidance, the Court will never discuss the facts in an opinion, hut simply grant or refuse such motion as it deems will best subserve the ends of justice. Brown v. Mitchell, 102 N. C., 347; Ferebee v. Pritchard, 112 N. C., 83; Clark v. Riddle, 118 N. C., 692; Nathan v. Railroad, Ibid, 1066. The (hurt in the present instance, upon consideration of the affidavits, grants the motion.
It is proper to say that, when a motion for anew trial for newly discovered evidence in this Court is contemplated, notice of such motion should be always given the other side and a copy of the affidavits served therewith. The respondent should also serve a copy of his counter affidavits, if time permits. Thus there will be no surprise on either party and the Court will be put in full possession of the facts. The appellant should give this notice at least ten days before the beginning of the. call of the District to which the cause belongs, unless the information comes to him after that time, when the Court may shorten the notice and, if necessary, give the respondent time to file counter affidavits. Code, Section 595. Now trials for newly discovered evidence are not favored either in the trial Court or on appeal, and the party moving on that ground must not only negative laches in himself in discovering the evidence relied on, but must give reasonable notice to the other part}r of the motion based thereon. In this case ten days notice was not given, as it should have been, hut there had been no precedent requiring it, and the appellee had opportunity to file counter affidavits, and did so.
The appellant will pajr the costs in this Court. When a new trial is granted, the costs of the appellate Court are always a matter of discretion. Code, Section 527 (1). When the new trial is on the ground of newty discovered evidence, the costs of the appellate Court should always fall upon the party obtaining the new trial, unless in exceptional cases and for special reasons, since the other party is in no laches, as is shown by its having obtained the judgment below. This is also a wholesome rule of practice, as new trials on this ground are outside of the regular course and are only granted, in discretion, when justice requires a departure from the usual jirocedure. By analogy, when a continuance is asked for on the ground of newly discovered evidence, the Statute expressly forbids it to be granted except upon payment of the costs of the Term. Code, Section 402 (2).
Motion allowed.