Court Opinion

ID: 9865193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 16:26:56.213363+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:51.816129
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Bakke,
dissenting.
The Court dismisses the writ of error on the ground that the specification of points was not filed in time in accordance with Rule 111 (f). All of the rule should have been quoted. It provides in part: “No writ of error shall be dismissed and no specification of points shall be disregarded on account of any technical defect not affecting the substantial rights of the parties.”' If there ever was a situation where the language just quoted should be invoked, it is here.
The record discloses that the specification of points was filed by leave of court on December 20, 1945, in response to a petition filed by the attorney general’s office, in which it appears that the assistant attorney general in charge of these cases had been ill and that *484she supposed the other assistant, who filed the brief in time, also had filed the specification of points therewith. This petition was served on defendants in error December 13, 1945, and no objection was made thereto.
The writ of error was issued on October 15, 1945: “Once the writ has issued, the case is within our control and subject to reasonable extension of time within which an abstract or a brief [specification of points may be filed with the brief], or even the record, .may be filed.” Wheeler Kelly Hagny Trust Co. v. Williamson, 111 Colo. 515, 143 P. (2d) 685. We have reinstated a cause after dismissal on procedural grounds where we thought disposition on the merits required it. Grand Lodge v. Grand Lodge, 86 Colo. 330, 282 Pac. 193.
“An appeal will not be dismissed because of a failure to assign errors within the time fixed, where the appellant makes a showing tending to explain and excuse the failure, and where it appears that no material delay nor prejudice to appellee has been caused thereby.” Moynihan v. Perkins (Syllabus), 17 Colo. App. 450, 68 Pac. 1062.
The purpose of the rule (requiring specification of points) is to advise the Court and opposing counsel as to the alleged error relied upon for reversal. Since counsel here agree that there is only the one point involved, the brief served on defendants in error in time fully advised them of the question presented for determination. When the reason for a rule fails, it should not be invoked.
“Copies to be served or filed. * * * No such service shall be required upon a defendant in error who has not entered his appearance in the supreme court as stated in the summons to hear errors, but an additional copy of each such paper shall be filed with the clerk.” Rule 115 (i), R.C.P. Colo. The first appearance of defendant in error was November 26, 1945. Plaintiff in error filed his brief on November 14th, and so far as the extra copy in the clerk’s office was concerned, we w;aived that pro*485vision of the rule when we permitted the filing on December 20th.
This would seem to sufficiently answer the Court’s opinion, but for good measure, we. may add that the rule that the workmen’s compensation law is to be liberally construed has been disregarded.
Therefore, I respectfully dissent.