Opinion ID: 2212751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Are the appeals from the interlocutory judgment moot?

Text: In Schueler v. Madison [5] the plaintiffs appealed from a judgment dismissing the action. After the appeal was perfected, they made a motion in the trial court to set aside the judgment. The motion was denied for lack of jurisdiction. This court, in affirming the order, held that the trial court had no power to act on the subject matter of the appeal once it was perfected, because a duly perfected appeal transfers all jurisdiction of the subject matter to the appellate court, where it remains until the appellate proceeding terminates and the trial court regains jurisdiction. It follows that until the appeal is duly perfected the trial court is not divested of power to act on the subject matter of the appeal. An appeal is perfected by serving an undertaking for costs. Sec. 274.11 (2), Stats. A copy of the undertaking is to be served together with a copy of the notice of appeal. Sec. 274.28. Notice of appeal must be served on each party adverse to the appellant on the appeal who appeared in the action or proceeding and, in an appeal from a judgment, upon all parties bound thereby who appeared. Sec. 274.11 (1). The insureds of each insurance company are parties who have appeared in these actions. In each case they are represented by the same counsel who represents their insurers. The insureds are adverse to their insurers on these appeals, because the judgment determines the duty of each insurer to defend the action on behalf of its insured. The record in this case does not disclose that any notice of appeal or undertaking for costs was served upon the insureds. Service upon the attorneys who represented both insurer and insured, even if made, would not be sufficient service because of the conflict of interest between their clients. No notice of appeal or undertaking for costs having been served upon the insureds, the appeals in this case were not duly perfected and the trial court was not divested of power to vacate the interlocutory judgment. Since the judgment has been vacated, there is nothing left for this court to act on, and the appeals from it must also be dismissed. By the Court. Appeals dismissed.