Case Name: Joseph, an Infant, Appellant, v. Peterson et al., Appellees
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1958-10-28
Citations: 108 Ohio App. 519
Docket Number: No. 5979
Parties: Joseph, an Infant, Appellant, v. Peterson et al., Appellees.
Judges: Petree, P. J., and Miller, J., concur.
Reporter: Ohio Appellate Reports
Volume: 108
Pages: 519–524

Head Matter:
Joseph, an Infant, Appellant, v. Peterson et al., Appellees.
(No. 5979
Decided October 28, 1958.)
Messrs. Herbert, Tuttle, Applegate & Britt, for appellant.
Mr. William J. Lohr, for appellees.
Motion to certify the record overruled, July 1, 1959.

Opinion:
Bryant, J.
The matter up for consideration at this time arises on a motion of defendants, appellees herein, to strike the reply brief of appellant from the files for the reason that the reply brief was filed out of rule. In support of this motion counsel for appellees relies upon Rule Y, B, of the Rules of The Courts of Appeals which provides as follows:
"Unless otherwise ordered by the court or a judge thereof, upon appeals on questions of law and fact, when all the testimony to be presented has been filed in the cause, the party having the burden of going forward shall within twenty (20) days' thereafter file with the clerk his trial brief in triplicate. The opposite party shall within fifteen (15) days thereafter file his answer brief in triplicate, and the reply brief thereto in triplicate shall be filed within five (5) days thereafter."
Appellees say that appellant has not complied with the rule above set forth and ask this court to strike the reply brief from the files, stating that appellees' answer brief was filed August 11, 1958, and that appellant waited 29 days before filing her brief.
In opposition, thereto counsel for plaintiff, appellant herein, say the initial brief of appellees was filed J une 23, 1958, and the court extended the time for the appellees' brief to August 11, 1958, and that the appellees ' brief was not filed until August 12, 1958, making it out of rule one day.
Appellant points to the fact that appellees had 49 days to prepare an answer brief and say that the reply brief in question was filed September 10, 1958. Appellant further contends that the rule in question makes the time limits applicable "unless otherwise ordered by the court," that appellees did obtain an extension to August 11, 1958, and that, therefore, the rule does not apply. It is further pointed out that new and novel questions are involved in the appeal, and that the matter is of great importance.
The notice of appeal in this case, filed on June 20, 1958, states that it is "her appeal to the Court of Appeals on questions of law." It should be observed that the wrong rule has been cited. Rule V of the Rules of the Courts of Appeals deals with appeals on questions of law and fact. It will be noted by reference to the text quoted above that Rule V, B, is applicable only "upon appeals on questions of law and fact."
In the interest of accuracy it should be pointed out that Rule VII, A (2), governs the time for filing briefs in appeals on questions of Jaw in civil cases. Rule VII, A (2), relates both to (1) "Bill of Exceptions" and (2) "Assignments of Error and Briefs."
The bill of exceptions in this case was filed in this court on July 7, 1958. Rule VII, A (2), is clearly applicable in this case and provides as follows:
"Unless otherwise ordered by the court or a judge thereof, assignments of error and briefs shall be filed as follows:
" (a) Within twenty (20) days after the filing of the bill of exceptions with the clerk of the Court of Appeals, appellant shall file his assignments of error and brief. If a bill of exceptions is not required to portray the claimed errors, then appellant shall file with the clerk of the Court of Appeals his assginments of error and brief within fifty (50) days after the perfecting of the appeal as required by Section 2505.07, Revised Code.
"(b) Within fifteen (15) days after the filing of the appellant's brief, counsel for appellee shall file his brief and also at his election assignments of error on his behalf, and brief in reply thereto shall be filed within seven (7) days thereafter. The appellee's brief shall include such reasons and' authorities in support of his assignments of error as he may desire, as well as an answer to appellant's brief. The appellant's reply brief may cover all matter in the appellee's brief."
The appellant in the usual appeal on questions of law has 20 days after the filing of the bill of exceptions in this court to file his brief and assignments of error. While the answer brief of appellees is due 15 days after the date of filing the appellant's brief, it is seven days after the appellee's brief is filed that the reply brief of appellant is due to be filed.
(Decided April 7, 1959.)
Without laboring the question further, the fact is that the proceeding has not been delayed due to the date on which the reply brief of the appellant was filed, and no purpose, useful or otherwise, would appear to be served by striking such brief from the file. Perhaps the only one penalized, if such action were taken, would be the court itself, in that the court would be deprived of the additional discussions and authorities cited in such reply brief.
The motion therefore should be, and hereby is, overruled.
Motion overruled.
Petree, P. J., and Miller, J., concur.