Case Name: Town of Plainfield, Appellant, vs. Village of Plainfield, Respondent
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1886-12-14
Citations: 67 Wis. 525
Docket Number: 
Parties: Town of Plainfield, Appellant, vs. Village of Plainfield, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 67
Pages: 525–526

Head Matter:
Town of Plainfield, Appellant, vs. Village of Plainfield, Respondent.
November 29
December 14, 1886.
Submission of controversy without action.
Where a controversy is submitted without action under sec. 2788, E. S., an, affidavit that the controversy is real and the proceedings in good faith is essential to the jurisdiction; and without such affidavit the decision of the court is not a judgment and not appeal-able.
APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Wausha/ra County.
The cause was submitted for the appellant on the brief of T. H. Wallcer and W. JST. Kelley, attorneys, and Q-. W. Gate, counsel, and for the respondent on the brief of B. L. D. Potter.

Opinion:
Lyon, J.
The parties submitted certain questions affecting their pecuniary relations to each other, to the circuit court for its determination. This was done without action, pursuant to E. S. sec. 2788. This appeal is by the plaintiff from the decision by the circuit court of the question so submitted.
Sec. 2788 provides that, when such a submission is made, "it must appear by affidavit that the controversy is real, and the proceedings in good faith to determine the rights of the parties." The required affidavit is essential to the jurisdiction of the court to render a valid judgment on the matters submitted. Without it, the decision of the court is not a judgment which can be enforced as a judgment in an action, or which may be appealed. At most, it is a mere award, as in a common-law arbitration.
This record contains no such affidavit, and it is conceded that none was made. Hence no appeal lies from the decision of the circuit court.
By the Gov/rt.— The appeal is dismissed.