Case Name: C. A. MOORE v. THOMAS J. HARKINS, Administrator
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1920-05-05
Citations: 179 N.C. 525
Docket Number: 
Parties: C. A. MOORE v. THOMAS J. HARKINS, Administrator.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 179
Pages: 525–529

Head Matter:
C. A. MOORE v. THOMAS J. HARKINS, Administrator.
(Filed 5 May, 1920.)
1. Rehearing — Second Rehearing — Appeal and Error.
A party whose application for a rehearing of the ease has been denied may not successfully petition for a rehearing, though additional reasons are given in the denial of the former petition by the court in reaching the same conclusion.
3. Same — Opposing Party.
Where a petition to rehear a case in the Supreme Court has been allowed, the opposing party only may petition for a second rehearing thereof.
3. Rehearing — Court’s Discretion — Rules of Court — Appeal and Error.
Unlike an appeal, a petition to rehear is a matter in the discretion of the Supreme Court to be exercised under the rules prescribed by it. Rule 53.
C. A. Moore in persona for plaintiff.
No counsel, contra.

Opinion:
Clark, C. J.
This is a second petition to rehear, and in fact a third petition, which the plaintiff styles: "A further petition to rehear."
The case sought to be reheard was decided 27 December, 1919, opinion by Brown, J. The first petition to rehear was ordered docketed by the two justices to whom it was referred at request of petitioner under Rule 53, and upon consideration by the Court the original decision was reaffirmed and the petition dismissed.
A second petition was sent in, but did not receive the approval of the two justices to whom it was referred, and under the rules of the Court was not docketed, and was returned to the. petitioner denied, with a statement from the clerk, by authority of the court, that a second application for rehearing by the same party was not allowable, and the petitioner was referred to Nelson v. Hunter, 145 N. C., 334, where it is said: "A second rebearing is permissible only when on the first rehearing we have reversed or materially changed, the opinion that was sought to be reheard, as in Elmore v. R. R., 132 N. C., 865," and the second petition is by the other party.
In this third petition to rehear it is evidence that the petitioner misunderstood the reference to Elmore v. R. R., supra, which was cited as presenting the only condition in which a second rehearing was allowable. In Elmore's case on the first rehearing the original opinion was reversed, and the second rehearing was allowed on application by the opposite party, and the original decision reinstated.
The rule is almost without exception in the precedents that when a petition to rehear is denied a second petition by the same party is not permissible. Otherwise, as the Court said in Crawfordsville v. Johnson, 51 Indiana, 400, in denying a second petition to rehear: "If a second petition for rehearing can be filed by the same party in the same case why may not 10, 20, or 100 petitions for rehearing be filed by the same party in the same case ?"
In Williams v. Conger, 131 U. S., 390, the Court said that having denied the petition to rehear, "the persistent renewal of the application . . . is not in order, and does not recommend itself to the favorable consideration of the Court." In Bank v. Grunthal, 39 Fla., 388, the Court said: "A second application for the rehearing of a cause in the appellate court by the same party, and upon the same ground as a former application that has been considered and denied is irregular and must be denied."
In Bope v. Ferris, 88 Mich., 300, it was held that a rehearing not being a matter of right, an order denying a former petition to rehear cannot itself be reheard. To the same purport Coates v. Cunningham, 100 Ill., 453. In Smith v. Dennison, 101 Ill., 657, it is said: "A second petition for rehearing of a cause by the same party cannot be entertained," citing Garrett v. Chamberlain, 100 Ill., 476, and adds: "It matters not that upon the denial of the first petition the court saw proper to modify the language of its opinion previously filed. It is the decision of the Court, not so much the reasons which may have been assigned, that is subject for reconsideration upon an application for the rehearing of a cause. If the decision originally made is adhered to on such reconsideration, although the reasons given for it may be modified, or the grounds of decision changed, it will not be open to further review at the instance of the same party." There was no change as to the language, or reasoning, of the opinion in the present case in denying the first petition to rehear, but we give the above citation as applicable in such cases.
In Newberry v. Blatchford, 106 Ill., 584, the Court said that after denying a rehearing the Court will not reopen the discussion of the questions previously determined, on tbe application of tbe same party, pointing out tbat as tbe Court would not bear tbe same questions presented by a second appeal in tbe same case, it would not do so upon an application for a second rebearing. In a later case, Leathe v. Thomas, 233 Ill., 430, tbe Court said: "When a petition for rebearing bas been denied another application for rebearing will not be entertained."
"Only one rebearing is granted in any cause, unless matters are decided on tbe rebearing wbicb bad not been previously considered, and are reserved for rebearing." S. v. Willson, 37 La. Ann., 737; Westerfield v. Lewis, 43 La. Ann., 63. In 3 Cyc., 218, it is said: "A second application for tbe rebearing of a cause by tbe same party, and upon tbe same grounds on wbicb as a former application bas been considered and denied, will not be entertained," citing authorities in tbe notes.
In Watson v. Dodd, 72 N. C., 240, the Court said: "Tbe weightiest considerations make it the duty of the courts to adhere to their decisions. No 'case ought to be reversed upon petition to rehear unless it was decided hastily and some material point was overlooked or some direct authority was not called to the attention of the Court." See very numerous citations to tbat case in Anno. Ed. For a stronger reason, when the losing party bas bad opportunity by a petition to rehear to show that such material point was overlooked, or tbat some direct authority was not called to the attention of the Court, or tbat the case was decided hastily, and bas failed to so satisfy the Court, be should not be again beard upon another petition to rehear.
Interest republicae ut sit finis litium. "When a party, by reason of a nonsuit or otherwise, renews bis action on the same ground again and again, before a magistrate, or before the Superior Court, the courts will prevent a defendant (who bas some rights) being oppressed or annoyed by vexatious litigation, and will restrain the persistent plaintiff from bringing further action by a bill of peace. Certainly the courts should not permit a party to renew bis litigation by petition to rehear unless the petition is well founded, and when it bas once decided tbat it is not, it cannot be again presented by a second, or in this case a third, application to rehear.
It appears from the opinion of Brown, J., in this case, ante, 167, tbat this matter bas occupied its full share of the time of the courts. He says, "The identical cause was before this Court in a case between the same parties at Spring Term, 1916, 171 N. C., 697," and the action was dismissed. "Another action was brought 5 November, 1914, and' tried before Harding, J., February Term, 1916, in wbicb a judgment of nonsuit was entered, the cause, of action being based upon the same drafts or assignments."
"Another action was brought 24 February, 4917, based upon the same cause of action, and was tried April Term, 1918, before Stacy, J., upon the following issues: 'Is the defendant indebted to the plaintiff, and if so, for what amount ? Answer: No.' '2. Is the plaintiff's claim barred by the statute of limitations. Answer: No.'
"The court set aside the verdict of the jury as to the second issue, and ordered judgment against the plaintiff upon the first issue. . . . An appeal was taken to tbis Court, and appears in 177 N. C., 114. In closing its opinion, the Court said: We tbinb the charge on the first issue was correct, and practically reduced the controversy to one of fact, wbicb bas been settled by the jury's finding on the first issue.' "
The opinion in tbis case, ante, 168, citing 171 N. C., 697, and 177 N. C., 114, between the same parties, was very carefully and considerately written. Tbe first petition to rebear it was docketed by leave of the two judges to wbom it was referred, and upon reconsideration of the Court it was denied. Tbe second and third petitions to rehear, as held in the authorities above cited, are "irregular and cannot be entertained." We have been thus full in discussing the matter out of consideration to the plaintiff, who is fully satisfied that tbis Court bas been in error all along, but be bas bad bis constitutional "day in court"— several days in fact. We decided the case according to wbat we believe correct, and we deem it now due to the defendant, and every defendant in like case, that be should not be further vexed by litigation over the same subject-matter, and that other litigants should have opportunity to be beard.
An appeal is a matter of right, but a petition to rehear is not. It is a matter in the discretion of the Court, and must be exercised according to the rules prescribed by tbis Court (Rule 53), wbicb bas sole control of its own practice and procedure, Herndon v. Ins. Co., 111 N. C., 384, and cases there cited, and citations to that case in the Anno. Ed. And among these conditions are tbis that when the Court bas granted or bas denied a petition to rehear, whether such petition fails by reason of the refusal of the two judges (to wbom the matter bas been referred by the petitioner) to order it docketed, or is denied by the Court, as in tbis ease, after it is docketed and reconsidered, that is the end of litigation, and no further rehearing can be bad upon the application of the same party. Tbis is only permissible as already said, when on the rehearing the former opinion is reversed, in wbicb case the respondent can file bis petition to rehear as in Elmore v. R. R., 132 N. C., 865, cited in Nelson v. Hunter, 145 N. C., 334.
In tbis, as in tbe two previous petitions to rehear, tbe petitioner is particularly insistent that in tbe case sought to be reheard be was denied a trial by jury. Tbe merits of tbe petition cannot be considered, as they were passed upon when we denied tbe first petition, but we reiterate, as said by Brown, J., ante, 169, (tbe opinion in tbis case), that tbe jury found on tbe identical cause of action between tbe same parties in tbe trial before Stacy, J., April, 1918, against tbe plaintiff, and on appeal tbe judgment was sustained, 177 N. C., 114. That is an estoppel by record, and there was no fact to submit to tbe jury.
Petition dismissed.