Opinion ID: 1786640
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on motions to dismiss appeal

Text: GILLESPIE, J. Appellee filed its motion to dismiss this appeal on the ground that the appellants did not perfect their appeal by filing a bond within the time allowed for appeal. The trial court fixed the bond at $1,000 for an appeal without supersedeas. The appellant filed a petition for appeal and recited therein that he was depositing with the clerk of the trial court the sum of $1,000 as security for the costs. The $1,000 was deposited in accordance with the petition. The cost of the transcript was not prepaid. Appellant contends that he has met the requirements of the  statutes as to the filing of a bond, but requests the court to be allowed to file the proper bond or do whatever may be necessary to perfect his appeal. Section 1162 of the Code of 1942 provides that an appeal without supersedeas may be had upon the filing of a bond in the penalty of $500, or the filing of a $100 bond if the cost of the transcript is prepaid. If the cost of the transcript is prepaid, the appellant may deposit with the clerk the sum of $100 in lieu of the $100 bond. (Hn 8) A deposit of a sum of money equal to the penalty of the bond does not satisfy the requirements of the statute for an appeal without supersedeas in a civil case except where the cost of the transcript is prepaid, in which even a deposit of $100 may be made in lieu of the bond. (Hn 9) Section 1959 of the Code of 1942 provides that all defects and irregularities in the application for appeal, and the bond, may be cured by amendment, so as to perfect the appeal and obtain the judgment of this Court in the case. This statute is broad in its terms and we should not limit its application to trivial defects and irregularities. It should be liberally construed in favor of allowing the case to reach final judgment on the merits. (Hn 10) We hold that appellant may file a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $1,000 within seven days from this date, but upon failure to do so the case will be dismissed. The following cases indicate the various defects and irregularities held curable in perfecting an appeal: Wills, et al v. Howie Bros., 109 Miss. 568, 68 So. 780; Lovett v. Harrison, 162 Miss. 814, 137 So. 471; Purity Ice Cream Co. v. Morton, 157 Miss. 728, 127 So. 276; Gericevich, et al v. Bonham, et al, 177 Miss. 423, 170 So. 680; Williams v. Walton & Son, et al, 202 Miss. 641, 32 So.2d 131. The case of Howell v. Miller, 151 Miss. 372, 118 So. 178, is not applicable here because the appellant in that case did not offer to cure the defect. Neither is the case  of J.R. Watkins Co. v. Guess, et al, 196 Miss. 438, 17 So.2d 795, in point, for that case involved an appeal from the justice of the peace court to the circuit court. No offer was made to cure the defect and give the circuit court jurisdiction; besides, the defect in the bond there was curable, if at all, under Section 1208, Code of 1942, a statute nothing like as broad and liberal as Section 1959. Gaudet v. Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Natchez, (Miss.), 42 So.2d 808, is no authority here because that was a motion to advance filed within the time allowed for perfecting the appeal in the court below, and the court never reached the question of whether the defects in the appeal were curable under Section 1959 of the Code. There is no merit in the motion of appellant for dismissal of the cross appeal, and it is hereby overruled. Appellee's motion to dismiss the appeal is overruled provided appellant files a good and sufficient bond, with proper sureties, in the penal sum of $1,000 within seven days from date, in default of which the appeal will be dismissed. Motion to dismiss cross appeal overruled. Motion to dismiss direct appeal overruled. All justices concur, except McGehee, C.J., who took no part.