Court Opinion

ID: 7031952
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 06:41:45.317965+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:10:59.907906
License: Public Domain

Smith, J.
The plaintiffs in error applied to the Shelbyville railroad company for damages occasioned by the road of the company running through their land. Appraisers to assess the damages were appointed who awarded the plaintiff 100 dollars. This award was made and filed in the office of the railroad company on the 2d of February, 1848.
Upon the 22d of February, 1849, the plaintiff moved the Circuit Court to grant them an appeal from the award of the appraisers. Their motion was founded on an affidavit made by their counsel. The affidavit states that the application for damages was filed in May, 1847; that sometime in the winter or spring of 1848, the appraisers were appointed by the railroad company; that the affiant, who was the attorney of the applicants, was not notified of the award until September, 1848; that he believes the applicants were not previously notified; that the complainants are aggrieved, &c; that an appeal would have been taken within 30 days if the applicants had been notified; and that the applicants desire an appeal for the furtherance of justice, &c.
The appeal was granted in the first instance, but was afterwards dismissed on the ground that the Circuit Court had no authority to grant it.
The statute of 1836 prescribing the mode by which damages shall be obtained in such cases, makes the award of the appraisers final, unless an appeal is taken by either party within 30 days after the award is made; and it is *532further provided by that statute that when such appeal is taken it shall be governed by the same rules and regulations as appeals from judgments of justices of the peace, except that no bond shall be required of the state when a ’party.
F. M. Finch, for the plaintiffs..
R. L. Walpole and W. Quarles, for the defendants.
In ordinary cases appeals must be taken from judgments of justices of the peace within 30 days, but by a provision in chapter 47, s. 178, R. S., the Circuit Court may authorize the taking of an appeal after the expiration of 30 days, if it is made to appear by affidavit that the party wishing the appeal was prevented from taking it within 30 days by unavoidable circumstances, or by the improper conduct of the appellee or of the justice, and that he has merits in such appeal.
It is contended by the defendant in error that this statute is not applicable to appeals from the awards given by appraisers under the act of 1836, but we do not deem it necessary to decide whether it is or not, as it seems quite clear there was not enough state^l in the affidavit to authorize the taking of an appeal under that statute. The affidavit alleges no improper conduct of the appraisers or of the railroad company, and it states no unavoidable circumstances by which the plaintiffs were prevented from appealing within the limited time.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is affirmed with costs.