Court Opinion

ID: 5469173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:20:19.047204+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:14.163608
License: Public Domain

TTa-r-rts, Justice.
The decision of this motion involves the question, whether, after the time allowed by the 832d section of the Code has elapsed, it is in the power of the court still to grant to a party leave to appeal. Upon this question a diversity of opinion has existed.
Upon this point I concur in the views expressed by Mr. Justice Marvin, in Haase agt. The New-York Central Railroad Co. (14 How. 430).
By the 405th section of"the Code, a judge at chambers may enlarge the time within which a proceeding in an action may be had, but the time for appealing is expressly excepted from this power. It is observable, too, that the power of the judge at chambers can only be exercised before the time allowed for taking the proceeding has expired. He can only enlarge time. He has no authority, in any case, to allow a proceeding to be had, after the time prescribed for such proceeding has expired. But there is no such restriction upon the court. The 174th section of the Code declares, that the court may allow an answer or reply to be put in, or any other act to be done, after the time limited for that purpose has expired. This power is general. Ho form of words could make it more so. Had it been intended to withhold from the court, as it had been withheld from a judge at chambers, the power to grant or enlarge time to- appeal, it is reasonable to suppose that the same exception would have been found in section 174 that was inserted in section 405. The absence of any such restriction is very strong evidence that the legislature did not intend that it should be imposed.
In coming to this conclusion, I have not overlooked the case of Enos agt. Thomas (5 How. 361); nor the fact that it purports to be a general term decision. The case itself was properly decided, but the circumstances under which the opinion, as it now appears, came to be published, are such that I do not feel bound by its authority. It may have had the assent of its ostensible author, but, as I am informed, it was not submitted to the other judges who took part in the decision.
*326In Sherman agt. Wells (14 Howard, 522), it is said that the court has no power to extend the time within which the party may appeal. But it is evident, from the report of the case, that the question was not considered, nor, in the view taken by the court of the question before it, was it necessary that it should be determined.
The affidavits upon which this motion is founded present a case which calls upon the court still to allow the defendant to appeal, if it has the power, and being satisfied that such power is conferred upon the court by the 174th section of the Code, this branch of the motion should be granted.
I am also of opinion that, upon perfecting the appeals in all the cases, and giving security as required by the 348th section of the Code, all further proceedings in two of the actions should be stayed until the decision of the court upon the appeal in the third action. The defendants in the other two actions should be required to stipulate to be bound by the decision so to be made. The plaintiff should also be allowed -to elect which of the three actions shall be argued upon the appeal. The plaintiff is also entitled to the costs of this motion.