Opinion ID: 1715519
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: sanctions for peremptory writ of mandamus action

Text: Finally, Wal-Mart asserts that the district court erred in awarding Greenwalt attorney fees and expenses relating to Wal-Mart's action for a peremptory writ of mandamus. In response to the district court's order for Wal-Mart to turn over the requested documents, Wal-Mart sought leave in this court to file an original action for a peremptory writ of mandamus. This court dismissed the petition without comment. After the jury verdict, the district court awarded Greenwalt $6,891 for attorney fees and expenses resulting from action taken by Greenwalt in response to Wal-Mart's filing the peremptory writ of mandamus action. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-824(2) (Reissue 1995) states in pertinent part that in any civil action commenced or appealed in any court of record in this state, the court shall award as part of its judgment and in addition to any other costs otherwise assessed reasonable attorney's fees and court costs against any attorney or party who has brought or defended a civil action that alleges a claim or defense which a court determines is frivolous or made in bad faith. (Emphasis supplied.) Wal-Mart's petition for a peremptory writ of mandamus was filed in this court, not the district court. Subject matter jurisdiction is the power of a tribunal to hear and determine a case of the general class or category to which the proceedings in question belong and to deal with the general subject matter involved. Concordia Teachers College v. Neb. Dept. of Labor, 252 Neb. 504, 563 N.W.2d 345 (1997); In re Application of Burlington Northern RR. Co., 249 Neb. 821, 545 N.W.2d 749 (1996). The district court has no jurisdiction to grant a motion filed in a fully adjudicated cause of action in the appellate court seeking to supplement the appellate court's order. K N Energy, Inc. v. Cities of Broken Bow et al., 248 Neb. 112, 532 N.W.2d 32 (1995). When an issue as to the subject matter jurisdiction of the original tribunal is apparent on the face of the record, yet the parties fail to raise that issue, it is the duty of a reviewing court to raise sua sponte and determine whether the lower court had the power to enter the judgment or other final order sought to be reviewed. See, Currie v. Chief School Bus Serv., 250 Neb. 872, 553 N.W.2d 469 (1996); In re Interest of D.W., 249 Neb. 133, 542 N.W.2d 407 (1996). We conclude that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to determine whether Wal-Mart's mandamus action, filed in this court, was frivolous or made in bad faith. Accordingly, the district court's judgment awarding Greenwalt attorney fees and expenses in connection with Wal-Mart's mandamus action is void. See Currie v. Chief School Bus Serv., supra . We note that the general rule is that mandamus is not a preventive remedy but essentially a coercive writ, one that commands performance of a duty and not desistance therefrom. Richardson v. Griffiths, 251 Neb. 825, 560 N.W.2d 430 (1997); State ex rel. Bates v. Morgan, 154 Neb. 234, 47 N.W.2d 512 (1951). See 52 Am.Jur.2d Mandamus § 9 (1970). Clearly, Wal-Mart's petition sought a writ from this court commanding desistance from the district court's discovery order. However, no attorney fees or costs shall be assessed if a claim or defense was asserted by an attorney or party in a good faith attempt to establish a new theory of law in this state. § 25-824(5); In re Estate of Holt, 246 Neb. 50, 516 N.W.2d 608 (1994). Because Wal-Mart essentially argued for a good faith change in the law by arguing why a writ should be issued in this case, we declined to award attorney fees when we dismissed the petition without comment.