Court Opinion

ID: 7172570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:27:59.366128+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:47.050200
License: Public Domain

O’NIELL, J.,
dissents for the reason that the appeal taken in this case was only a devolutive appeal; and, as the appeal did not suspend execution of the judgment, which ordered defendant to surrender possession of leased premises within 24 hours, he was compelled to obey the decree.
By Division B, composed of Justices O’NIELL, LAND, and BAKER.
On Motion to Dismiss Appeal.
O’NIELL, J.
This is a summary proceeding by a landlord to evict the tenants. The testimony taken in support of the motion to dismiss the appeal shows that, after the judgment was rendered, ordering defendants to vacate the leased premises, they surrendered the property to an intervener in the suit, sold her their furniture in the house, and paid her the rent for five days extra time; that is, from the expiration of the previous month to the date when they surrendered possession.
As a general rule, the right to take a devolutive appeal is not forfeited by a compliance with the judgment complained of. The reason is that a person who takes only a devolutive appeal from a judgment against him must submit to the execution of the judgment. But there are cases where a devolutive appeal cannot afford any relief to the appellant. This appeal presents such a ease. The only defense to the suit was defendants’ contention that the term of the lease had been extended. The only relief prayed for in defendants’ answer to the suit was *585that it should be dismissed. The alleged extension of the term has already expired. A reversal of the judgment appealed from would therefore serve no purpose. What has been done in compliance with the judgment, even if it had been done by the sheriff in execution of the judgment, would not be annulled by a reversal of the judgment on a devolutive appeal. Jefferson v. Gamm, 150 La. 372, 90 South. 682.
The appeal is dismissed.