Court Opinion

ID: 5387714
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-08 09:33:56.57619+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:30:15.173234
License: Public Domain

Case held, decision reserved. Memorandum: While we recognize that normally this court would be without power to resettle the record, by the opinion of the Trial Justice and his statement therein that these affidavits were not used upon the trial of the action, it is patent that had he believed that he had the power to resettle the record, then on file in this court, he would have done so. The motion was orally argued in this court as part of the main appeal. We are satisfied that the questioned affidavits have no place in this record. Under such circumstances it would be an idle ceremony to return this matter to the Trial Justice who undoubtedly would resettle the record by striking out these papers as they should be stricken out. Accordingly, while we recognize the rule that it is for a trial court and not this court to settle the record, we feel that we could decide this appeal, disregarding the questioned affidavits which have no place in this record, as included therein by mistake (Civ. Prac. Act, § 105). However, in view of the claimed disqualification of the Trial Justice, we deem it inadvisable to proceed with the determination of the appeal at this time and so hold the decision for thirty days during which time the defendant may apply to the Special Term to vacate the judgment because of the claimed disqualification and upon advising us that such an application has been made, we will withhold decision until the Special Term determines that motion. In the event of an appeal from any order made by the Special Term on defendant’s motion, that appeal and the present appeal will be considered at the same time. All concur. (The judgment is for plaintiff, less the amount awarded on defendant’s counterclaim, in an action on a promissory note.) Present — Taylor, P. J., Larkin, Love, Vaughan and Kimball, JJ.