Court Opinion

ID: 9631570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:42:47.150122+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:57.104897
License: Public Domain

ON OBJECTIONS TO COST BILL
*202William K. Shepherd, Portland, contra.
Herbert Swift, Newberg, for the motion.
PER CURIAM.
The respondent has filed objections to certain items in the appellant’s cost bill.
*203(1) The first objection is to “Cost of premiums for cost and supersedeas bond $600.00.” ORS 747.100 (2) provides:
“In all actions and proceedings a party entitled to recover disbursements therein shall be allowed and may tax and recover a sum paid a person or company for executing any bond, recognizance, undertaking, stipulation or other obligation therein. Such sum shall not exceed one percent of the amount of the bond or other obligation during each year the same was in .force.”
Under the provisions of this section it becomes necessary to determine as near as may be the amount of the bond during each year that the same was in force. Barbour v. Johnson, 201 Or 375, 388, 269 P2d 531, 270 P2d 673. The judgment against the respondent, including costs, was in the principal amount of $8563.73, and was entered August 5, 1953. Appellant’s supersedeas bond was filed on or about September 17, 1953. The appellant concedes that the proper charge is not in excess of $300. Taking into consideration the fact that the judgment bore interest at the rate of six percent per annum and the further fact of a contingent liability for costs in case of an affirmance, we estimate the amount properly chargeable for premiums during the three-year period that has elapsed since the appeal was taken to be $290.
 (2) The next objection is an item of $529.60 paid to the court reporter for preparation of the transcript of testimony. The transcript comprises 328 pages including certificate. Under OES 21.470 the fees of the official reporter for making transcripts are fixed at 15 cents per folio of 100 words. This would bring the cost of preparation of one transcript of testimony to $147.60. The appellant seeks to charge the respondent with the *204additional cost of two copies of the transcript, one of which was served on the respondent Herring and the other on the appellant’s codefendants in the circuit court, C. & H. Bakery Supply Company, a corporation, and W. Keith Herrmann. The authority given to the prevailing party on appeal to this court to tax as costs the expense of preparation of the transcript of testimony is found in OBS 20.310, and is expressly limited to a transcript which necessarily forms part of the record on appeal. We have repeatedly held that there is no authority to tax as costs the expense of extra copies of the transcript which may be furnished to the opposing parties on the appeal. Buckles, Exec. v. Continental Cas. Co., 197 Or 128, 141, 251 P2d 476, 252 P2d 184; Spicer v. Benefit Ass’n of Ry. Emp., 142 Or 574, 604, 17 P2d 1107, 21 P2d 187, 90 ALR 517; Campbell Co. v. Corley, 140 Or 462, 483, 3 P2d 776, 13 P2d 610, 14 P2d 455; Bell v. Spain, 110 Or 114, 135, 222 P 322, 223 P 235, and cases there cited. The appellant argues that the bill of exceptions consisted of the entire testimony, and that it was mandatory for the appellant to serve copies thereof upon the other parties to the appeal before the bill of exceptions could be settled. Counsel refer to OBS 19.100, which prescribes the procedure for the settlement of a bill of exceptions, but we find no requirement in that or any other section of the code for the service of a proposed bill of exceptions upon the opposing party. We realize that under the rules of some judicial districts all papers filed in a case must be served upon the adverse party. But, even though such a rule be harmonious to the provision of the statute governing the procedure for settlement of a bill of exceptions, it could not possibly extend the provisions of the statute for the taxation of *205costs, as this is a matter purely within the competence of the legislature.
(3) The final objection is to an item of $30 for costs paid by the appellant to its codefendants. The appellant says that this was a “necessary disbursement” within the meaning of those words as used in OES 20.020. We agree that it was necessary for the appellant to pay it, but we do not agree that it is a taxable item against the respondent. The appellant evidently considered that its codefendants were necessary parties to the appeal, and, acting under that erroneous notion, served them with notice of appeal. They moved to dismiss the appeal, and, under date of February 3, 1954, this court entered an order allowing such motion. Thereafter the codefendants served the appellant with a cost bill in the amount of $30, which was paid. It was the appellant’s own mistake in attempting to make its codefendants a party to the appeal which brought about its liability for the amount in question. The item is no concern of the respondents and is not taxable here as costs.
The costs are retaxed and will be allowed to the appellant as follows:
Clerk of the Supreme Court, filing fee $ 20.00
Clerk of the Supreme Court, trial fee 6.00
Bertha Marshall, Eeporter, preparation of transcript of testimony 147.60
Printing, at $2 per page, as follows:
Appellant’s Abstract of Eeeord 82.00
Appellant’s Brief 256.00
Appellant’s Eeply Brief 126.00
Cost of premiums for cost and supersedeas bond 290.00
*206Clerk of the Circuit Court of Yamhill County, Oregon, preparation of transcript on appeal 9.00
Sheriff of Yamhill County, Oregon, service of Notice of Appeal and Motion 7.10
Statutory attorneys ’fee 15.00
Total $958.70