Drake v. Smythe

44 Iowa 410

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 19, 1876
• Status: Published

Opinion

Beck, J.

I. The motion is based upon the grounds, 1st. That while the sureties become bound by the supersedeas bond for and on behalf of Smytlie alone, judgment is rendered against them as sureties of Barnes. 2d. That such an agreement was entered into between the parties for the stay of execution, without the knowledge and consent of the sureties,' that thereby they become released from liability upon the bond.

i. juktsdicticen! the suJudgment.111 ' II. We had some doubts, when the motion was first submitted to us, whether we had jurisdiction, at a term subsequent to the one at which the judgment was rendered, to set it aside, and we requested counsel to discuss this point. Counsel against the.motion do not argue the question, and do not dispute our jurisdiction. Upon further consideration we are satisfied that we possess authority to cancel the judgment if we find it has been unlawfully rendered. This power was conferred by the common law upon the courts. Kemp et al. v. Cook et al., 18 Md., 130.

We’ know of no statute which takes it from this court. Those statutes which restrict or regulate it are applicable to the inferior courts. As there can be no review of judgments entered here, .it appears that the protection of parties and the right administration of justice demand that jurisdiction should rest in this court to correct or cancel judgments impr’ovidently entered through mistake or oversight, or procured in cases wherein the record, when inspected, fails to show jurisdiction in this court.

2. principal ñawiityo?! surety. III. It may be conceded for our present purpose, as contended by counsel for the motion, that Smythe alone is the principal in the supersedeas bond, and that Barnes took no steps to stay the judgment. The sureties became bound in that case for Smythe alone. But as the judgment against Smythe and Barnes is joint, Smythe, by his sole act, caused it to be superseded. The sureties became liable for him thereby. Their liability is as broad as Smythe’s and that is for the full amount of the judgment. This position, we believe is not denied by counsel for the motion. The judgment against the sureties upon the bond for the amount of the joint judgment against Smythe and Barnes is, therefore, correct unless it be obnoxious to another objection which we will hereafter consider.

3_.__. judgment. IT. The smaller judgment is against Barnes alone. Smythe could not, by a supersedeas bond, stay execution on that judgment, and it does not appear that he attempted so to do. By the terms of the bond filed it is applicable in a judgment against Smythe; it was intended to supersede such a judgment; its language cannot be construed to cover a judgment against Barnes alone. That judgment was not superseded nor within the terms of the bond. The sureties are not bound therefor. The judgment in this court against them for the amount of the judgment against Barnes alone was rendered without authority, and must be set aside. To this extent the motion will be sustained.

i. —: -. Y. It is insisted, by the counsel for the motion, that the sureties are released by reason of the agreement, upon which the judgment was affirmed in this court, to extend the time of payment and stay execution without their knowledge or consent.

By the execution of the bond the sureties enabled the defendants to supersede the judgment. The sureties became parties to the record, and were liable to any judgment rendered in the cause within the limit of their obligation. Their relation to the action was not such as gave them any control thereof; they could not dictate to defendant the course he should pursue in the case; he had the full right to do whatever the law authorized in a case where no sureties are concerned. Their position in the case was one of obligation for debts, not of rights in conflict with defendant’s lights. They were bound for the judgment which should be rendered against defendant in the progress of the suit. That defendant had the right to stipulate for time upon the rendition of the judgment cannot be questioned. The sureties, then, are bound by that agreement, and are liable upon the-judgment.. These views are supported by Hershler et al. v. Reynolds et al., 22 Iowa, 152; Ammons v. Whitehead et al., 31 Miss., 99.

The motion, as to the judgment against Smythe and Barnes jointly, is

Overruled.