Case Name: Burkholder v. The People ex rel Nazerine et al.
Court: Colorado Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Colorado
Decision Date: 1915-09
Citations: 60 Colo. 46
Docket Number: No. 8514
Parties: Burkholder v. The People ex rel Nazerine et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Colorado Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 46–47

Head Matter:
[No. 8514.]
Burkholder v. The People ex rel Nazerine et al.
1. ■ Costs — A Creature of Statute. Costs cannot be recovered in the absence of a statutory provision therefor.
2. - The Common Law, as to costs in quo warranto has no application with us.
3. Quo Warranto — Costs. The relator in quo warranto is not liable for costs.
4. Error — Judgment, improvidently entered, vacated.
Error to Adams District Court. Hon. H. S. Class, Judge.
On motion of plaintiff in error for execution against relator for costs.
Mr. Clyde O. Epperson, for plaintiff in error.
Mr. I. B. Melville, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Per curiam.
Unless the statute so provides, a respondent cannot recover costs of a relator in a quo warranto case. Costs are distinctively a creature of statute, and where no provision is thereby made for costs none can be recovered. The common law respecting costs in quo warranto has no application with us, since we have undertaken to provide by statute under what circumstances and in what cases costs are recoverable. Finding no statute, either special or general, or a rule of court, under which costs are taxable against the relator in a quo warranto case, we are forced to the conclusion that the motion for execution against the relators herein must be denied, and it is so ordered.
It appearing from the record that judgment for costs has been improvidently entered against relators, the same is hereby annulled and set aside as contrary to law and unwarranted.
Decision en banc.