Title: State v. Canizales
Citation: 240 Neb. 811, 484 N.W.2d 446
Docket Number: 582, 583
State: Nebraska
Issuer: Nebraska Supreme Court
Date: May 29, 1992

484 N.W.2d 446 (1992) 240 Neb. 811 STATE of Nebraska, Appellee, v. Flavio CANIZALES, Appellant. No. S-91-582. Supreme Court of Nebraska. May 29, 1992. Martin G. Cahill, Deputy Hall County Public Defender, for appellant. Don Stenberg, Atty. Gen. and Mark D. Starr, Lincoln, for appellee. HASTINGS, C.J., and BOSLAUGH, WHITE, CAPORALE, SHANAHAN, GRANT, and FAHRNBRUCH, JJ. BOSLAUGH, Justice. The defendant, Flavio Canizales, was charged with attempted second degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. In the trial court the defendant was represented by the public defender. On November 2, 1990, the trial court authorized the defendant to take discovery depositions. On January 11, 1991, the information was dismissed on the motion of the county attorney. All costs were taxed to the State. On April 18, 1991, the defendant filed a motion which requested that the trial court determine the "assessment of costs in this matter." On April 30, 1991, the trial court ordered that "said costs are to be paid P.D." From this order the defendant has appealed. The order of January 11, 1991, taxing the costs to the State was correct. The order of April 30, 1991, retaxing the costs to the "P.D." was erroneous. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-1711 (Reissue 1989) provides in part, "[T]he court may award and tax costs, and apportion the same between the parties on the same or adverse sides, as in its discretion it may think right and equitable." (Emphasis supplied.) The statute does not provide that costs may be taxed against persons who are not parties to the litigation. Ludwig v. Board of County Commissioners, 170 Neb. 600, 103 N.W.2d 838 (1960), held that costs may be taxed only against parties to the litigation. Ludwig was an action between "residents, electors, and taxpayers in Sarpy County" and three Sarpy County commissioners who failed to comply with a redistricting statute. The trial court found that the defendant county commissioners had failed to comply with *447 the redistricting statute; however, the trial court taxed the costs of the action to the county. This court held that the trial court was in error in taxing costs to the county because the county was not a party to the action. In the Ludwig case we said: Ludwig, 170 Neb. at 619, 103 N.W.2d at 850. The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to tax all costs in this matter to the State. REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.