Case Name: State ex rel. M. A. Pike and John H. Pike v. The Judge of the Superior District Court, Parish of Orleans
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1875-11
Citations: 27 La. 676
Docket Number: No. 5996
Parties: State ex rel. M. A. Pike and John H. Pike v. The Judge of the Superior District Court, Parish of Orleans.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 27
Pages: 676–678

Head Matter:
No. 5996.
State ex rel. M. A. Pike and John H. Pike v. The Judge of the Superior District Court, Parish of Orleans.
A. L. Gusman, alleging an interest in the affairs of a defunct insurance company, applied to the judge of the Superior District Court, parish of Orleans, for a mandamus to compel M..A. Pike and John A. Pike who had possession of the books of the company, to grant him access to the same for examination. On the writ being made peremptory, the relators M. A. Pike and John A. Pike moved for a suspensive appeal, which being granted was subsequently set aside and permitted to operate only as a devolutive one. Whereupon relators applied to this court for a writ of prohibition to be directed to the judge a quo and the civil sheriff of the parish of Orleans, restraining them from proceeding in the premises. As there is nothing in the record to show that there is an amount exceeding five hundred dollars in dispute, this court has no jurisdiction ratione materice.
APPEAL for a writ of prohibition against the judge of the Superior District Court, parish of Orleans.
H. B. Magruder, for relators. Henry B. Kelly, for A. L. Gusman. Judge Haidkms, in propria persona.

Opinion:
Taliaferro, J.
A. L. Gusman, alleging an interest in the affairs of a defunct insurance company, the books and papers of which being in. the possession of Wm. S. Pike as president, during his life time, were found in his succession after Ms decease, applied to the judge of the Superior Court for a mandamus to compel Mary A. Pike and John H. Pike, the legal representatives ofWm. S. Pike, deceased, to grant him access at seasonaMe and proper hours to the said books and papers for examination. The writ prayed for was made peremptory and the relators applied for a suspensive appeal, which was granted on bond with surety in the sum of $300 as fixed by the judge. The required bond was furnished, but subsequently, on application of Gusman, the judge set aside the appeal as a suspensive one, and permitted it to operate only as a devolutive appeal. The relators thereupon obtained an order of this court requiring the said judge and the civil sheriff of the parish of Orleans to show cause why a writ of prohibition should not issue restraining them from further proceedings in said case. The judge a quo and the sheriff answered the rule,.and as we think satisfactorily in their behalf.
It is clear that this court has not jurisdiction ratione materiw. See case State ex rel. DeSt. Romes v. The Steam Cotton Press Company, 22 An. 622, and State ex rel. Nugas v. Friedlander, 25 An. 43, and 24 An. 148. Let the writ be discharged.