Bishop v. Chillingworth

163 So. 93, 120 Fla. 740, 1935 Fla. LEXIS 1459
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedSeptember 2, 1935
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 163 So. 93 (Bishop v. Chillingworth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bishop v. Chillingworth, 163 So. 93, 120 Fla. 740, 1935 Fla. LEXIS 1459 (Fla. 1935).

Opinion

Whitfield, C. J.

A demurrer to an alternative writ of mandamus issued by this court was sustained with leave to amend. Bishop v. Chillingworth, Circuit Judge, 286 Fla 114, 154 So. 254.

An amended alternative writ of mandamus was issued here on an amended petition filed.

Matters in pais alleged in the amended alternative writ of mandamus are not authenticated by a bill of exceptions as was held in the former opinion above cited to be necessary in this class of cases where it is sought to require a Circuit Judge to entertain and adjudicate a motion for new trial which he has stricken on the ground that he had no authority to adjudicate it, because it was “not duly presented to the Judge within the required time.”

The petition for the amended alternative writ of mandamus contains what is termed a special bill of exceptions taken in the cause in the trial court. It is authenticated by the following which appears to be in the handwriting of the Judge:

“I decline to settle the above proposed bill of exceptions only because I believe I do not at this time have the power to settle it. December 11, 1934.

“C. E. Chillingworth, Circuit Judge.”

*742 In striking the motion for new trial on the ground that it was “not duly presented to the Judge within the required time,” the Court in the same order, dated March 14, 1933, stated that: “It is further ordered that thirty days be

allowed for the purpose of settling such bill of exceptions', if any, as the court may be authorized to settle.” It thus appears that though thirty days from March 14, 1933, were allowed for presenting a bill of exceptions, none was presented until December 11, 1934. This explains why the Judge endorsed his refusal to settle the “proposed bill of exceptions” that was presented to him December 11, 1934.

Even if exhibits referred to in the essential allegations of matters in pais contained in the amended petition and alternative writ may be regarded as legally and sufficiently authenticated under Section 4534 (2917) C. G. L., for' consideration in this proceeding by reason of the endorsement of the Judge above quoted, such allegations are insufficient to show error in the action of the Circuit Judge in striking the motion for new trial.

The statute provides:

“Motions for new trial in civil cases shall be made within four days after the rendition of the verdict and during the same term, but the judge upon cause shown may within such four days and during the same term by order extend the time for the making and presentation of such motions, not to exceed fifteen days from the rendition of the verdict. In all cases of extension of the time for making such motions, a copy of the motion to be presented to the judge shall be served on the opposite party, or his attorney, with three days’ notice of the time and place that the same will be presented and heard.” Sec 4498 (2811) C. G. L.

Under the statute, “in all cases of extension of the time *743 for making such motions (for new trial), a copy of the motion to be presented to the judge shall be served on the opposite party, or his attorney, with three days’ notice of the time and place that the same will be presented and heard.” See DeSoto Holding Co. v. Boyer, 85 Fla. 517, 97 So. 205; Warner v. Goding, 91 Fla. 260, 107 So. 406; Citizens Bank v. Williams, 91 Fla. 589, 110 So. 252; Adams v. Wolf, 103 Fla. 547, 137 So. 705.

It appears that the verdict in the court below was rendered February 9, 1933; that during the same term, on February 13, 1933, the court extended the time to February 20, 1933, to make and present a motion for new trial in the cause; that on March 8, 1933, when the motion for new trial was to be heard, counsel for plaintiffs moved to strike the motion for new trial on grounds among others that the motion was “not presented within the time fixed” by the order under the statute; whereupon counsel for defendants below filed with the Judge an affidavit:

• “That on Monday, February 20th, 1933, I appeared before the Honorable C. E. Chillingworth, having with me and in my possession at that time and holding in my hand, Motions in the above entitled cause for a Venire Facias de Novo, Motion for a New Trial and Motion for Arrest of Judgment, and at that time stated to the Court to the best of my recollection and belief the following words, ‘Judge, .1 have here Motions for a New Trial and Venire Facias de Novo and Motion to Arrest Judgment in that ejectment case we tried the other day, and I would like to have an appointment for hearing.’ It is my further recollection that during the conversation regarding that appointment, these Motions were laid on the Judge’s desk. Upon making the aforesaid request for hearing, I was advised that he was trying cases that week and the following, week and that if *744 I would call him later in the week, he would be glad to set a definite date; thereafter I took the said Motions to the Clerk’s office where they were filed.

“Subsequently, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the following Thursday I again requested the Court for a date of hearing, at which time the said hearing was set for the following Wednesday, March 1st, 1933. Notice of said hearing was duly sent to the counsel for plaintiff on the 25th day of February, 1933, at which time the attorney for the plaintiff called your affiant on the phone stating that he would be in New Orleans before the Circuit Court of Appeals at the time set for said hearing and requested that said hearing be postponed until his return, at which time your affiant, on a telephone conversation with C. E. Chilling-worth, Judge of the above styled Court, changed the date of hearing until the following Wednesday, March 8th, 1933.”

On March 8th, 1933, counsel for the plaintiffs filed the following affidavit:

“That on the 25th day of February, A. D. 1933, defendants, by their counsel, served on affiant, as' attorney for plaintiff in the above cause, copies of all the foregoing mentioned motions, together with notice that the same would be presented and heard before the Honorable C. E. Chillingworth, Judge of the above styled Court, in his Chambers, at West Palm Beach, Florida, at 10:00 o’clock A. M., on March 8th, 1933; that no form of notice that the defendants or their counsel would present and hear said motions; was served on the plaintiff, or any of his attorneys, prior to the 25th day of February, A. D. 1933; that none of the above mentioned motions were served on plaintiff, or any of his attorneys, prior to the 25th day of February, A. D. 1933.”

Thus it appears that even if the motion for new trial of *745 defendants was presented to the Judge on Febraury 20, 1933, defendants below, relators here, do not purport to show that “a copy of the motion to be presented to the Judge” was “served on the opposite party or his attorney, with three days’ notice of the time and place that the same will be presented and heard” as is expressly required by the statute, the time for making and presentation of the motion for new trial fixed by the order under the statute being February 20, 1933.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
163 So. 93, 120 Fla. 740, 1935 Fla. LEXIS 1459, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bishop-v-chillingworth-fla-1935.