Court Opinion

ID: 6691217
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:38:04.655731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:06.990161
License: Public Domain

MORIARTY, C.
This matter now comes before this court on an order to show cause issued upon respondent’s application. The order cites appellants to show cause why their appeal should not be dismissed upon the grounds set forth in the application. Typewritten briefs have been presented by the respective parties, together with affidavits setting forth the facts upon which the contentions are based.
The facts affecting the motion to dismiss are as follows: The trial court entered judgment in favor of respondent and against the appellants on January 19, 1925. Appellants moved for a new trial, and on July 16, 1925, the trial court entered an order denying that motion. On July 25, 1925, appellants’ counsel served notice of appeal on respondent’s counsel. No’ undertaking on appeal was served with the notice, but such undertaking was served on July 29, 1925. Neither the notice of appeal nor the undertaking was filed with the clerk of the trial court until August 19, 1925. Appellants’ brief on the appeal was not served until September 14th, and it was not filed with the clerk of this court until September 19th. No stipulation extending the time was ever filed in this court. O'n October I4tht, respondent’s counsel presented the application for the show cause order now before the court.
Respondent contends that the appeal should be dismissed upon the following grounds: First, that the undertaking on appeal was *289not served with the notice of appeal, an interval of 5 days having elapsed between the service of the notice and the service of the undertaking; second, that appellants’ brief was not served within 30 days after the service of the notitce of appeal, a period of over 50 days having elapsed after the service of notice -and before service of the -brief; third and fourth, failure of appellants to- file their notice of appeal and undertaking within a reasonable time after the service thereof, these papers not being filed with the clerk of the trial court until 21 days after the service of the notice.
As to the failure to serve the undertaking with the notice of appeal, respondent’s counsel rely upon the holding of this court in Aldrich v. Public Opinion Publishing Co., 27 S. D. 589, 132 N. W. 278. In that decision -we find the following statement:
“We are satisfied that, to give this court jurisdiction upon appeal fot any purpose whatsoever, the undertaking, if one - is necessary, or the notice of deposit of cash, must be served with the notice of appeal; and, in -case of a waiver of such bond or deposit, it must be entered into at the time of or prior to the service of notice of appeal.”
These words would seem to sustain respondent’s contention. But in La Penotiere v. Kellar, 28 S. D. 469, 134 N. W. 48, this court -has evidently- distinguished between a waiver of the bond and a waiver of an order relieving appellant of default in failing to serve the bond with the notice, and in this Kellar Case the court has held- that accepting service of the bond amounts to a waiver of appellant’s applying to the court.and securing an order excusing the default and allowing service of the bond to be made aftes service of the notice. And the court therein holds that such acceptance of service waives the procuring of such order and gives this court jurisdiction of the appeal. This decision seems to render untenable respondent’s contention that the appeal should-be dismissed because of failure to serve the undertaking with the notice.
As to the contention that the appeal should be dismissed for failure to file appellants’ brief within 30 days after the taking of the appeal, this court has dismissed many appeals upon that ground, and the law of the state upon that question seems to be well established. It is true that in most of the appeals so disposed of the appellants had remained in- default for a long time *290before the dismissal, and in many of the cases no brief had been filed at any time prior to the dismissal. Conger v. La Plant, 36 S. D. 111, 153 N. W. 934; Conger v. La Plant, 36 S. D. 180, 153 N. W. 1006; Bond Co. v. Patterson, 36 S. D. 387, 156 N. W. 70; Anderson v. Riffle, 36 S. D. 239, 154 N. W. 648; State ex rel v. Anderson, 42 S. D. 23, 172 N. W. 780; Roberts v. Bergen, 42 S. D. 60, 172 N. W. 874; Essy v. Hicks, 45 S. D. 429, 187 N. W. 638; State ex rel v. Interstate Surety Co., 45 S. D. 429, 187 N. W. 637; Dak. Nat. Bank v. Lee, 46 S. D. 117, 190 N. W. 881; Robinson v. Nelson, 42 S. D. 125, 173 N. W. 157.
In their arguments on this motion counsel for both parties assume that rule 5 requires the filing of appellants’ brief within 301 days after the service of the notice of appeal. But in the case of County of Grant v. Jones, 42 S. D. 489, 176 N. W. 38, this court has interpreted the rule to mean that the brief must he filed within 30 days after the taking of the appeal, as defined in section 3146 of the Revised Code. Therefore, as the notice of appeal was not filed with the clerk of the trial court until August 19th, the time for serving the brief upon 'Counsel and of transmitting it to the clerk of this court did not expire until September 18th. When it was deposited in the mail or express office, it was “transmitted” within the meaning of this rule, and, although it did not actually reach the clerk’s office until the next day, yet it was served and transmitted in time.
The motion to dismiss the appeal is therefore denied.