Case Name: Colbeth and another, Appellants, vs. Colbeth and another, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1903-02-24
Citations: 117 Wis. 90
Docket Number: 
Parties: Colbeth and another, Appellants, vs. Colbeth and another, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 117
Pages: 90–91

Head Matter:
Colbeth and another, Appellants, vs. Colbeth and another, Respondents.
February 6
February 24, 1903.
Security for costs: Discretion: Dismissal of action.
1. Under sec. 2942, Stats. 1898 (giving power to require plaintiff to give security for costs “in all cases where it shall appear reasonable and proper”), the court had discretionary power to require such security where two of the three plaintiffs were nonresidents, although the affidavit in support of the defendant’s application stated that the purpose was to obtain security under secs. 2943-2945, which did not authorize the order.
2. Failure to comply with an order requiring security for costs justifies dismissal of the action.
Appeal from an order of the circuit court for St. Croix county: E. W. Helks, Circuit Judge.
Affirmed.
The plaintiffs, being owners in common of three undivided fifths of certain real estate, brought suit in ejectment against the defendant Catherine F. Colbeth, a cotenant with them, and Seth Colbeth. The appellants were non-residents, but the third plaintiff, Rhoda Sheasby, was a resident of this state. After answering, the defendants presented an affidavit asserting the nonresidence of two of the plaintiffs, and stating that it was made for the purpose of securing order for security of costs, under secs. 2943, 2944, 2945, Stats. 1898, whereupon the circuit judge made an ex parte order, December 2, 1901, requiring security of costs for $250, and staying all proceedings until it should be filed. On January 25, 1902, affidavit was made of failure to file security; also of breach of the stay order, in attempting to examine defendants under sec. 4096, Stats. 1898, whereupon an order to show cause, based upon the said affidavit and all papers on file, why plaintiff should not be punished for contempt, and the action be dismissed, was made and served; and on February 22d the court made order that the complaint “be, and the same is, hereby dis missed as to the plaintiffs Charles W. Colbeth and Ellen Hilton, and the other relief asked for be, and the same is, hereby denied.” Those plaintiffs appeal from that portion of said order which dismisses the complaint as to them.
The canse was submitted for the appellants on the brief of F. B. “Kinney and A. J. Kinney, and for the respondents on that of James A. Frear.

Opinion:
Dodge, J.
The circuit court had discretionary power, under sec. 2942, Stats. 1898, to require the appellant plaintiffs to give security for costs. The grounds stated in the affidavit were sufficient to support the affirmative exercise of that discretion, and we are unable to say that the court did not exercise it, and exercise it properly, notwithstanding the statement of defendant in her affidavit that her purpose was to obtain security in accordance with secs. 2943 et seq. Such order for security of costs was therefore within the power of the circuit court, and not an abuse of discretion, and valid. The failure of the appellant plaintiffs to comply therewith fully justified the order dismissing their action. Joint School Dist. v. Kemen, 72 Wis. 179, 39 N. W. 131; Felton v. Hopkins, 89 Wis. 143, 61 N. W. 77.
By the Court. — The order appealed from is affirmed.