Court Opinion

ID: 5168976
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-02 04:51:34.636268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:25:59.587698
License: Public Domain

SULLIVAN, C. J.
This is an application to tax damages and costs against the defendant in the above-entitled proceedings. The opinion in the main ease is reported ante, p. 718, 76 Pac. 323. After the decision was rendered the plaintiffs moved, under the provisions of section 4987 of the Revised Statutes, to have the plaintiffs’ costs and damages taxed against the defendant judge. The facts of the original case are stated in the opinion above referred to and need not be repeated here. Counsel for the plaintiffs filed their amended cost-bill setting forth the following items:
Clerk’s fees ............................$ 30 25
Sheriff’s fees for serving writ of mandate.... 14 00
Fees of clerk of district court.............. 5 00
Damages claimed by the plaintiffs under the provisions of said section 4987, consisting of attorneys’ fees and expense from Wallace to Boise, two trips....................... 400 00
Counsel for the defendant resisted the taxation of said costs and damages except the fees of the clerk of this court. The question, then, is presented, What damages, fees, costs and disbursements can be legally taxed against, a judge who makes a mistake in the dismissal of a case and is thereafter compelled to proceed and try the same by mandate from this court? Said section of the statute above referred to is as fcfilows: “Sec. 4987. If judgment be given for the applicant, he may recover the damages which he has sustained, as found by thé\jury, or as may be determined by the court or referee, upon a reference to be ordered, together with costs; and for such damaged and costs an execution may issue; and a peremptory writ of date must also be awarded without delay.”
It certainly was not intended by the provisions of that section of the statute to compel a court or judge to pay damages in case he made a mistake in deciding a question before him. So far as damages are concerned, the law does not contemplate that the judge or court shall be mulct in damages in case a mistake is made in the decision of the case, and for that reason the provisions of said section in regard to damages do not *779apply to courts or judges. The actual court costs of such a proceeding are usually taxed to the judge in case the writ is issued with the understanding that the party in whose favor the decision of the trial court or judge was rendered will see that such costs are paid. The only costs in this case that are properly chargeable are the actual court costs of this court, which amount to $44.25; $5.50 of those costs were made by the defendant. The said costs of $44.25 are taxed against the defendant, with directions that the defendants in the original suit pay the same. The motion to tax costs is granted as above stated, and not otherwise.
Stockslager and Ailshie, JJ., concur.