Case Name: GUNN v. BLACK et al.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1894-01-29
Citations: 60 F. 159
Docket Number: No. 347
Parties: GUNN v. BLACK et al.
Judges: Before SANBORN', Circuit Judge, and THAYER, District Judge.
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 60
Pages: 159–161

Head Matter:
GUNN v. BLACK et al.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
January 29, 1894.)
No. 347.
Circuit Court of Appeals — Appellate Jurisdiction.
An order made for the purpose of executing a decree, after an appeal from such decree has been perfected, but reserving final action until a commissioner should report his proceedings to the court at a subsequent term, is not subject to review on apiieal.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
George Gillham, for appellant.
John J. Humor and M. L. Stephenson, (Jacob Trieber, on the brief,) for appellees.
Before SANBORN', Circuit Judge, and THAYER, District Judge.

Opinion:
SANBORN, Circuit Judge.
For convenience, the appellant is termed the complainant, and the appellees the defendants, here, as in the preceding opinion in cases No. 277 and No. 278, between the same parties. 60 Fed. 151.
After both the complainant and the defendants had appealed to this court from the decree made December 14, 1892, (the appeals from which decree have just been decided,) and after the complainant had given an appeal bond, which had been approved by the court, and which operated as a supersedeas per se, the circuit court, on the motion of the defendants, made an order for the purpose of executing the decree below, to the effect that unless the complainant should select by May 1, 1893, from certain lands allotted to the defendants, those which he would accept, ai, their appraised value, in satisfaction of the amount of money dec,reed to he due to him from the defendants, a commissioner appointed by the court should make the selection, should execute deeds of the lands selected to the parties in accordance with the order, and report his proceedings to the court at its next succeeding term. The appeal now before us is from this order.
The order was undoubtedly erroneous. Both parties had appealed from the decree. That decree was in the complainant's favor, so that it is difficult to see how the defendants could suffer any damages through the complainant's appeal. Moreover, ,his appeal bond, which was approved by the judge, was conditioned that he should prosecute his appeal to effect, and answer all damages and costs if be failed to make good bis plea; and a bond so conditioned, when tbe appeal is perfected in time, as tbis was, operates as a supersedeas per se, and suspends tbe power of tbe court below to proceed further in the case by executing its decree. Rev. St. § 1000, 1007, 1012; Supp. Rev. St. p. 904, § 11; Gay v. Parpart, 101 U. S. 391. Upon a proper application presenting these facts, a writ of supersedeas might have been issued by tbis court, staying tbe proceedings of tbe court below until tbe decision of tbe appeals from tbe decree. Supp. Rev. St. p. 904, § 11; Hardeman v. Anderson, 4 How. 640; Adams v. Law, 16 How. 144; Ex parte Milwaukee R. Co. 5 Wall. 189.
But tbe act establishing tbis court gives it no jurisdiction to review such an order as that now before us upon an appeal. That act provides "that tbe circuit courts of appeals established by tbis act shall exercise appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal or by writ of error 'final decision in tbe district court and tbe existing circuit courts in all cases other than those provided for in tbe preceding section of tbis act." 26 Stat. c. 517, § 6; Supp. Rev. St. p. 903, § 6.
Under tbis statute, a final judgment or decree which determines all tbe matters in controversy in tbe suit, or a judgment or decree that finally determines tbe rights of some of tbe parties to tbe litigation who are claimed to be separately, not jointly, liable with others against whom tbe litigation continues, (Hill v. Railroad Co., 140 U. S. 52, 11 Sup. Ct. 690,) or a decree which determines a collateral matter distinct from tbe general subject of litigation, and finally settles that controversy, (Central Trust Co. v. Grant Locomotive Works, 135 U. S. 207, 224, 10 Sup. Ct. 736,) is subject to review in this court by writ of error or appeal, (Forgay v. Conrad, 6 How. 201, 204; Bronson v. Railroad Co., 2 Black, 524, 529; Thomson v. Dear, 7 Wall. 342, 345; Trustees v. Greenough, 105 U. S. 527; Williams v. Morgan, 111 U. S. 684, 689, 4 Sup. Ct. 638; Central Trust Co. v. Hiawassee Co., 2 U. S. App. 1, 1 C. C. A. 116, 48 Fed. 850; Grant v. Railroad Co., 2 U. S. App. 182, 1 C. C. A. 681, 50 Fed. 795; Potter v. Beal, 5 U. S. App. 49, 2 C. C. A. 60, 50 Fed. 860.)
But with tbe exception of orders granting or continuing injunctions, tbis statute gives no jurisdiction to tbis court to review any order made in the progress of tbe case, before or after judgment or decree, which does not embody in itself a final decision of tbe substantial rights of some of tbe parties to tbe suit, or to the controversy it affects. McLish v. Roff, 141 U. S. 661, 665, 666, 12 Sup. Ct. 118; Railway Co. v. Roberts, 141 U. S. 690, 12 Sup. Ct. 123; Hohorst v. Packet Co., 148 U. S. 262, 13 Sup. Ct. 590.
Tbe order here in question was certainly not a final decree. It was not based upon, and did not embody, any final decision of any of tbe rights of tbe parties to tbis suit. It expressly provided that tbe commissioner, after selecting tbe lands, and executing the deeds of them to tbe parties, should report bis proceedings to tbe court at the succeeding term. Tbis was an express reservation of final action.until tbe report should be received. Tbe order was a mere direction of tbe court concerning the method of executing its decree, —an order that would have been entirely within its discretion, if the decree had not been superseded by the appeal. It was not subject to review by appeal in this court. Smith v. Trabue, 9 Pet. 4, 7; Callan v. May, 2 Black, 541; Barton v. Forsyth, 5 Wall. 191.
For want of jurisdiction in this court, this appeal is dismissed, with costs.