Bixby v. Carskaddon

18 N.W. 875, 63 Iowa 164
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedApril 9, 1884
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 18 N.W. 875 (Bixby v. Carskaddon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bixby v. Carskaddon, 18 N.W. 875, 63 Iowa 164 (iowa 1884).

Opinion

Seevers, J.

1. Venue: agreement to change of: further change after new parties brought in. I. It is contended by counsel for the appellant that the court erred in overruling a motion for a change the place of trial, on the alleged ground that the defendants and their attorneys have such an undue influence over the inhabitants of the county , 1 , ,. . . .. .. . that plaintiii cannot obtain a fair trial therein. This action was originally brought in 1879, in the superior court of Cedar Rapids; and, before the attaching creditors were substituted as defendants, it was stipulated by the then parties as follows: “ It is agreed by the parties that the [166]*166venue in this case be changed to the Linn county circuit court, and that the same stand for trial at the January term, 1880. It is further agreed that the attaching creditors be made parties defendant with the sheriff, and that the present answer of the substituted defendants be an answer for all the defendants. It is further agreed that the cause shall not be transferred by either to the federal court, but shall be tried in the Linn circuit court.” This stipulation was filed on the second day December, 1879. Afterward, on the second day of February, 1880, another stipulation was signed, in which the names of the creditors are stated, and the defendants were to have sixty days to answer, and, as we understand, the substitution was then made, or the attaching creditors were then made parties.

The affidavits and motion for a change of the place of trial were filed at the January term, 1882, and the defendants filed written objections thereto, as follows: “First, The plaintiff has stipulated to try the action in this court. Second, The affidavits are insufficient in this, that they do not state that either defendants or their attorneys have undue influence, but that both together have such influence.”

As to the objection first above stated: The stipulation was that the action should be tried in the Linn circuit court; and it will be conceded that, as between the then parties, the stipulation should have full force and effect. But clearly, we think, the persons who were afterwards substituted as defendants are not bound by the stipulation as to the place of trial. It is true, they have not repudiated it, but that they could have done so there is no doubt. If the stipulation is not binding on them, it should not be so held as to the plaintiff. As between the parties to the action when the stipulation was made, it may be that the action should be tried .in Linn county. At least, they were willing it should be so tried; but it does not follow that either of the parties would be willing or bound to try it in such county, when other per[167]*167sons have been made parties, who might influence public sentiment against them.

2. -: motion for change of: compliance with language of statute. As to the second objection: The statute provides that if the “adverse party, or his attorney, has such undue'influence over' the inhabitants of the county that (the party applying for the change) cannot obtain a fair trial,” then "there may be a change of the place of' trial. The affidavit for the change states that “the defendants and their attorneys” have such undue influence.

Counsel for the appellees contend that, under the statute, the party or his attorney must have such influence, and that the affidavit states that both combined have, and, therefore, it is insufficient. We do not think this is the proper construction of the affidavit. It states that both the defendants and their attorneys have such undue influence over the inhabitants of the county that the plaintiff cannot obtain a fair trial.

The affidavit is broader than the statute, for it evidently means that the defendants have such undue influence, and so have their attorneys. That is to say, that each have, and not that both combined have. The affidavit' cannot fairly be construed as stating that, by combining the influence of both, the requisite undue influence can be said to exist.

3. -: CHANGE OF BY AGREEMENT: RIGHT TO FURTHER CHANGE FOR cause. The further objection is made, that the affidavit fails to state that the ground upon -which the change was asked was not in existence when the place of trial was changed by stipulation from the superior court of Cedar Rapids.’ This objection was not made in writing in court below, but it is said that written objections were not required, and that the objection now under consideration may have been made orally in the circuit court. Possibly this is so. The statute provides that, “after one change, no party is entitled to another for any cause in existence when the first change was obtained.” Code, § 2591. We do not understand that either party had previously applied for and obtained a change in the place of trial, but that [168]*168the parties mutually agreed to do so. This they may do, whether any statutory cause exists or not, and we do not think the statute quoted applies to such a case.

4. Practice: evidence: reading part only of deposition: error without prejudice. II. The plaintiff took the deposition of one Shedd, and the defendants cross-examined the witness. The plaintiff did not introduce the deposition, and the defendants asked leave to introduce the cross-examination. To this the plaintiff objected, unless the defendants introduced the whole deposition, including the “direct examination upon which the cross-examination was based.” The objection was overruled, and the cross-examination was introduced by the defendants. After they had rested, the plaintiff asked and obtained leave to introduce the examination in chief. It seems to us, if it be conceded that the court erred, that it was error without prejudice. The whole deposition was introduced, which was just what the plaintiff asked should be done. By the introduction of the cross-examination, the defendants made the witness their own, and liable to observation as such before the jury. We must not be understood as holding that it is either proper or improper for a party to introduce a portion only of a deposition in evidence under the circumstances just stated. We do not regard such question as being before us. That the party by whom a deposition is taken cannot select certain portions of it, and introduce such portions only, was held in Kilbourne v. Jennings, 40 Iowa, 473.

5. Evidence by Deposition: adoption by witness of answers made in prior examination: competency of. [169]*1696. -:--: objection too late. [168]*168III. It is further objected that the matter “puiqiorting to be a cross-examination” of the witness Shedd was not “proper matter for cross-examination; that the same consisted solely of the answers of said Shedd formerly taken as a garnishee, and was, therefore, not competent as original evidence on the part of the dex ° .... iendants.” Ilns objection was also overruled, J As we understand, Shedd was garnished by one or all of the attaching creditors, as the supposed debtor of Billings, and his answers taken as such garnishee. The credit[169]*169ors were not content' with his answers to the statutory questions, but Sbedd was subjected to a lengthy examination. The plaintiff gave notice to take Sbedd’s deposition on á commission and written interogatories.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Morgan v. State Ex Rel. Kirtley
146 N.E. 761 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1925)
Neuffer v. Moehn
65 N.W. 334 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1895)
Bixby v. Carskaddon
29 N.W. 626 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1886)
Platt v. Schreyer
25 F. 83 (U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York, 1885)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
18 N.W. 875, 63 Iowa 164, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bixby-v-carskaddon-iowa-1884.