Opinion ID: 1712613
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on second suggestion of error and motions

Text: ETHRIDGE, J. Appellant, Continental Southern Lines, Inc., has filed (1) a motion requesting this Court to set aside the opinions, orders and judgments rendered in these cases and to remand them to the docket for consideration and adjudication by all nine of the Judges, on the argued ground that the original decisions, 65 So.2d 575, 596, were void, since the affirmance was by a four to four vote, and four judges cannot affirm a case, and hence it is argued the affirmance on suggestion of error by five judges, 65 So.2d 833, 834, is not a valid ratification of the original judgment; (2) a motion to argue orally the preceding motion; (3) a suggestion of error directed both to the dismissal of similar motions in 65 So.2d 833, 834, and to the merits of these cases. In the opinions of July 3, 1953, all nine of the judges participated in the decision on the merits and overruled the suggestions of error, by a five to four vote, and all nine of the judges concurred in a dismissal of substantially similar motions there made because they had become moot. 65 So.2d 833, 834. Hence the Court on suggestion of error pretermitted the question of whether a case may be affirmed by four judges, since five joined in the final decision. The stated motions and the suggestion of error directed to the opinions of July 3, 1953, and the orders thereon, dismissing the motions there before the Court, and the briefs thereon, deal with the same constitutional issue which the Court finally disposed of on that date. It was there decided that the decision on suggestion of error by a majority of five judges constituted a valid and final judgment, and that the question raised by Continental Southern Lines in its motions as to the effect of the original four to four decision was moot, and was therefore pretermitted, since a majority of five judges rendered the final judgment. To the same effect is Joe Ready's Shell Service Station & Cafe, et al. v. Mrs. Mary L. Ready, 65 So.2d 268, on suggestion of error, Miss. Advance Sheet No. 35, page 12; see also Carney v. Anderson, 214 Miss. 504, 517, 58 So.2d 13, 59 So.2d 262 (1952). (Hn 27) Accordingly the two motions, and suggestion of error directed to the dismissal of the motions described in 65 So.2d 833, 834, are overruled. The balance of the suggestion of error attempts to deal with questions submitted on the merits of the case and finally decided in the opinion and judgment on suggestion of error in July 1953. Rule 14 (3) of this Court provides: (Hn 28) After a suggestion of error has been sustained, or overruled, by the Court, no further suggestion of error shall be filed by any party. Hence that part of the suggestion of error by Continental is dismissed. Motions to set aside prior judgments herein, and for oral argument thereon, and suggestion of error to dismissal of motions on July 3, 1953, are overruled, and suggestion of error on the merits is dismissed.