Case Name: Newell v. Sanford
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1860-04-18
Citations: 10 Iowa 396
Docket Number: 
Parties: Newell v. Sanford.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 396–398

Head Matter:
Newell v. Sanford.
1. New trial. An appeal may be taken from an order of the District Court granting a new trial, but such an order will not be interfered with unless it is shown that the discretion vested in the court has been abused, or that great injustice has been done to the appellant. A stronger case must be made than would be required to justify the reversal of an order refusing a new trial.
2. Same in actions of right. Greater latitude is given to the discretion of the District Court as to new trials in actions of right than in any other actions.
Appeal from Polk District Court.
Wednesday, April 18.
Action of right. Trial by jury and verdict for the defendant. Motion by plaintiff for a new trial for the reason that the court had erred in giving certain instructions to the jury, as asked by defendant, and in refusing to give certain instructions as asked by the plaintiff; also in excluding from the jury certain evidence offered by the plaintiff. This motion was sustained and a new trial granted, from which order defendant appeals.
O. G. Bourse for tbe appellant.
An appeal lies from an order granting a new trial, Shaw v. Sweeney, 2 G. Greene 587; Stewart v. Ewbanks, 3 Iowa 191; Parker y. Eendrie, lb. 263 ; Edmonds v. Bishops, 14 El. 152.
Bates Phillips for tbe appellee.

Opinion:
BaldwiN, J.
It bas been fully settled by this court, that tbe discretion given to tbe District Court to grant or refuse a new trial will not be interfered with, unless that discretion bas been abused, or unless it is made fully apparent to this court that great injustice bas been done to the party complaining. 7 Iowa 244.
It bas also been doubted whether tbe order of tbe District Court in granting a new trial could be properly appealed from and reviewed in this court. Whilst this right bas been recognized, it has also been held that a stronger case should be made to justify tbe interposition of this court where tbe new trial was granted than where it was refused. Ruble v. McDonald, 7 Iowa 90.
Greater latitude' is given to tbe discretion of tbe District Court in actions of right than in any other actions. Tbe court may continue this kind of a cause for reasons of less importance than in other actions; and may grant a new trial upon tbe application of either party, if made at any time within the year after tbe trial. Sections 2006, 2014 of tbe Code.
Tbe plaintiff in this cause claimed to be tbe owner of, and entitled to tbe possession of, a certain lot occupied by defendant. Defendant in his answer denies the ownership of plaintiff and bis right of possession, but does not claim to be tbe owner thereof himself, nor does be set forth under what claim of right he holds possession, as in bis answer be is required to do. Section 2005, Code. Tbe defendant does not claim to be tbe owner of tbe property in controversy, but denies tbe plaintiff's right thereto. It does not appear to this court wherein it 'will work great injustice to defendant by tbe granting to plaintiff a new trial. Tbe defendant is not disturbed in bis possession of tbe property, he is not delayed in tbe collection of a debt, nor is there any judgment rendered against him for costs. Even if this iras an ordinary action, we could not perceive such an abuse of tbe discretion of tbe District Court, as in any manner to prejudice the rights of the defendant.