Case Name: ELLIS v. HEARN
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1909-05-07
Citations: 116 N.Y.S. 977
Docket Number: 
Parties: ELLIS v. HEARN.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 116
Pages: 977–985

Head Matter:
ELLIS v. HEARN.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
May 7, 1909.)
1. New Teial (§ 117 )—Pboceedings—Time of Motion—Reabgument.
Where a motion for a new trial was made under Code Civ. Proe. § 999, authorizing the trial judge to entertain a motion made at the same term, to set aside the verdict and grant a new trial upon exceptions, or because of excessive or inadequate damages, or. because the verdict is contrary to the law or evidence, and the motion was denied and the term expired, a new trial could not be thereafter granted under the statute upon reargument of the motion; the rights of the parties being then fixed.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see New Trial, Cent. Dig. § 239; Dec. Dig. § 117.*]
2. New Trial (§ 131 )—Becoed—Case-Made—Necessity.
Under the express provision of Code Civ. Proc. § 998, it is not necessary to make a ease upon a motion for new trial upon the ground of surprise, so that a case was not necessary on reargument of a motion by defendant for a- new trial on that ground after the direction of a verdict for plaintiff, because there was no evidence to the contrary.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see New Trial, Cent. Dig. §§ 263-269; Dec. Dig. §-131.*r
3. New Trial (§ 1*)—Power of Court—Supreme Court.
The power of the Supreme Court over its judgments is inherent, and not derived from or controlled' by the statutory provisions.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see New Trial, Cent. Dig. §§ 1-3; Dec. Dig. ■ § 1.*]
4. New Trial (§ 114*)—Proceedings—Motion—Jurisdiction.
Under Code Civ. Proc. § 1002, providing that in a case not specified in the last three sections, which do not relate to a motion for new trial on the ground of surprise, a motion for new trial must, in the first instance, be heard at Special Term, considered with section 998, making a case unnecessary for the purpose of moving for a new trial on the ground of surprise, a motion for new trial upon that ground must in the first instance be heard .at Special Term.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see New Trial, Dec. Dig. § 114.*]
5. Appeal and Error (§ 222*)—Proceedings Below—Objections—Waiver. •
Defendant’s- motion for a new trial on the ground of surprise by the illness of his principal witness was denied, but the trial judge directed the parties to submit all books bearing upon the question, and stated that, if it appeared that the witness’ testimony was as defendant claimed, he would consider a motion for a new trial. Thereafter, upon plaintiff’s refusal to submit his books, the trial judge made an order to show cause, returnable at chambers, why a rehearing should not be granted. There was no suggestion upon argument of irregularity upon the ground that the hearing was not before the Special Term, and the order granting a new trial was entitled as at Special Term, and recited that it was granted in furtherance of justice. Reid, that plaintiff could not object for the first time on appeal that the order was not made at Special Term; the fact that the judge was not sitting in the Special Term courtroom when he made the order not being a jurisdictional matter, but a mere irregularity which was waived, the parties having had a fair hearing upon the motion.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Appeal and Error, Gent. Dig. §§ 1333-1336, 1356; Dec. Dig. § 222.*]
6. New Trial (§ 88*)—Grounds—Absence of Witness.
The nonappearance of an expected witness is ground for a new trial on the ground of surprise.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see New Trial, Cent. Dig. § 176; Dec. Dig. § 88.*]
Ingraham' and Houghton, JJ., dissenting.
Appeal from Special Term, New York County.
Action by Edith H. Ellis against George A. Hearn. From an order setting aside a- judgment for plaintiff and granting a new trial, plaintiff appeals.
Affirmed.
Argued before INGRAHAM, LAUGHLIN, CLARKE, HOUGHTON, and SCOTT, JJ.
Charles S. Mackenzie (Walter F. Wood, of counsel), for appellant.
Philip S. Dean (David B. Ogden, of counsel), for respondent.
For other eases see same topic & § number in Dee. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep'r Indexes

Opinion:
CLARKE, J.
This is an appeal from an order made at "Special Term of the Supreme Court held at chambers thereof in the county courthouse," setting aside a verdict and granting a new trial. The order was made by the trial judge. The action was brought for rent reserved by two leases of real estate and upon a contract made at the closing of title for the sale of said real estate, and the question in litigation was whether certain rents were'paid in advance at the beginning of the quarter, or paid at the end of the quarter,, for previous rent. The respondent had a witness under subpoena whose testimony was material upon that point, and who, in fact, was the only witness that could testify to the facts with knowledge. He was taken sick. When the case was called for trial, a doctor's certificate was produced and a motion was- made for an adjournment, which was denied, and the case set for 2 o'clock the same day. At 2 o'clock the motion for a postponement was again denied, and the trial proceeded and resulted in a direction of a verdict for the plaintiff. A motion was thereupon made for a new trial upon all the grounds stated in section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and upon the further ground of surprise in the nonappearance of the witness Kieley. The motion was denied and an order was entered, but it is alleged in the moving affidavit that the trial justice thereupon stated that, if the facts in connection with the testimony of Kieley were subsequently brought to his attention in the form of a motion, he would consider the said motion. He thereupon directed both parties to the action to proceed to investigate the facts as to the exact amount of rent which had been previously paid on account of said leases, and to this end that the books of all parties be examined, and that motion papers stating the result be prepared and presented to him. The answering affidavit expressly states:
"The learned trial justice stated that if Kieley had paid his rent in advance as contended by the defendant that the fact could be easily ascertained from Kieley himself, and a motion might be made to the court for a retrial of the cause if it appeared that said Kieley had actually paid- the rent of said premises in advance, and could prove the same. There was a suggestion made by the learned trial judge that the plaintiff or defendant should submit all or any of the books and papers which the plaintiff had showing how and when the payments of the rent by said Kieley had been made."
In accordance therewith, an investigation of the books was commenced ; but, after allowing the defendant to look at the books covering a couple of years, the plaintiff refused to allow any further investigation. Whereupon an order to show cause was obtained from the justice who had presided at the trial, returnable before him, for a rehearing of the motion made at the close of said trial. Such rehearing was subsequently had, and thereupon the motion was granted, the verdict and judgment were set aside and a new trial was grant-ed; the order stating:
"The said justice having allowed a reargument of said motion so made at the close of the said trial, and in furtherance of justice."
So far as the motion papers asked for and the order appealed from purported to grant, a reargument of the motion made at the close of the case to set aside the verdict and for a new trial upon the grounds stated in section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure, I do not think if can be sustained. That motion is based "upon exceptions, or because the verdict is for excessive or insufficient damages, or otherwise contrary to the evidence or contrary to law." It must be made upon the judge's minutes "at the same term." If an appeal is taken, "it must be upon a case prepared and settled in the usual manner." The motion was made at the same term, was denied, and an order entered, and the term expired. The rights of the several parties were then fixed. The right of appeal existed. That motion was based upon the record of the case as presented; and, if that record disclosed error, it was available, and a reversal could be obtained by the ordinary method and practice prescribed. If the record did not contain error, there was no ground for granting the motion in the first place, and no ground could thereafter be supplied to justify a reargument. We shall, therefore, treat the order as one granting a new trial upon the ground of surprise. This is one of the grounds provided for in section 998 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and it is expressly provided that upon such a motion it is not necessary to make a case. Section 1002 provides that:
"In a case not specified in the last three sections, a motion for a new trial must in the first instance be heard and decided at the Special Term."
Reading this section in connection with section 998, it follows that a motion for a new trial upon the ground of surprise must in the first instance be heard and decided at the Special Term.
The order to show cause having been granted by the judge who presided at the trial and made returnable before him at chambers, the parties appeared and submitted their papers and affidavits, and argument was had, without any suggestion of irregularity upon the ground that the proceeding was not before the Special Term appointed to dispose of litigated motions; and the order entered upon the motion is entitled:
"At Special Term of the Supreme Court held at chambers thereof in the county courthouse."
I think the plaintiff thereby waived the question of regularity, and that it is not available, being raised for the first time upon appeal.
The power of the Supreme Court over its judgments is inherent, not derived from or controlled by statutory or Code provisions. In Donnelly v. McArdle, 14 App. Div. 217, 43 N. Y. Supp. 560, three years and eight months after the entry of the judgment, and after two motions had been made and denied for a new trial, the plaintiff, upon a new set of papers, obtained an order to show cause from the trial judge why the case should not be reopened upon the ground of surprise and a new trial had. Mr. Justice O'Brien, writing the prevailing opinion upon the appeal to this court, said:
"We all agree that the* court had power to grant the motion, and that such power was not dependent upon or limited by the Code, but is inherent in the court. Vanderbilt v. Schreyer, 81 N. Y. 646; Ladd v. Stevenson, 112 N. Y. 325, 19 N. E. 842, 8 Am. St. Rep. 748. In the latter case it was said: 'The whole power of the court to relieve from judgments taken through mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect is not limited by section 724, but, in the exercise of its control over its own judgments, it may open them upon the application of any one for sufficient reason in the furtherance of justice. Its power to do so does not depend upon any statute, but is inherent, and it would be quite unfortunate if it did not possess it to the fullest extent.' And in speaking of such power the court in Vanderbilt v. Schreyer, supra, said: 'There are so many occasions for its exercise that it should not be curtailed. Whether the power shall be exercised in any case rests in its discretion with the exercise of which this court will not ordinarily interfere.' "
By Code provisions and rules of court, the exercise of the general powers conferred upon the Supreme Court is distributed among its justices out of court, its Trial and Special Term parts, its Appellate Term, and its Appellate Division. The orderly administration of justice requires that the practice as governed by Code and rules should be followed. Irregularities in practice, however, may be waived. I do not think that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to entertain the motion now under consideration and grant the relief sought is affected by the question of in what room in the county courthouse the judge making the order entitled at the Special Term sat, provided that the parties were before him with opportunity to present their papers and their arguments, had a fair hearing, and submitted the question for decision without raising the question. Where it appears, as it does in the case at bar, upon the statements in the affidavits upon both sides, that this was a motion whose possibility was contemplated and suggested by the learned trial judge, and where he has made an order which recites that it was granted in furtherance of justice, we should not interfere therewith.
What appellant did object to upon the hearing was that a case should have been made, and that, as no case had been made, the court could not entertain the motion.; but, as pointed out, a case is not required upon the motion for a new trial upon the ground of irregularity or surprise. The making of a case under such circumstances would be an idle formality. The motion is not based on rulings at the trial and the admission and exclusion of evidence. The court directed a verdict because there was no evidence to the contrary; and the reason there was no evidence was because of the unexpected absence of a material witness by whom the only evidence could have been given. The nonappearance of an expected witness furnishes good reason for the granting of a new trial on the ground of surprise. Tilden v. Gardinier, 25 Wend. 663; Cahill v. Hilton, 31 Hun, 114, affirmed 96 N. Y. 675; Smith v. Lidgerwood, 60 App. Div. 467, 69 N. Y. Supp. 975.
Under the circumstances presented by this record, the order appealed from should be affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements.
LAUGHLIN and SCOTT, JJ., concur