Drinker v. Ritter, Lowe & Co.

223 P. 725, 110 Or. 431, 1924 Ore. LEXIS 209

• Court: Oregon Supreme Court
• Decided: March 4, 1924
• Status: Published

Opinion

McBRIDE, C. J.

This is a motion to dismiss an appeal. The amount involved is less than $250. The appeal was taken and perfected in May, 1922. Appellant’s abstract was filed June 28, 1922, and briefs of respective counsel were filed shortly thereafter. There is no ground for the assumption that counsel have been dilatory in any respect.

In 1923, and before the case could have been heard here in its order upon the docket, the legislature amended Section 548, Olson’s Oregon Laws, to read as follows:

“Sec. 548. Judgment or Decree, When Appeal-able. — A judgment or decree may be reviewed on appeal as prescribed in this chapter and not otherwise. An order affecting a substantial right, and which in effect determines the action or suit so as to prevent a judgment or decree therein, or an interlocutory decree in a suit for the partition of real property, defining the rights of the parties to the suit and_ directing sale or partition, or a final order affecting a substantial right, and made in a proceeding after judgment or decree, or an order setting aside a judgment and granting a new trial, for the purpose of being reviewed on appeal, shall be deemed a judgment or decree, but no appeal to the supreme court shall be taken or allowed in any action for the recovery of money or damages only unless it appears from the pleadings in the case that the amount in controversy exceeds $250.” [Chapter 153, General Laws of Oregon for 1923.]

In Libby v. Southern Pacific, 109 Or. 449 (219 Pac. 604), we had occasion critically to examine this act, and there expressed the opinion, in substance, that it applied to all cases then pending and undisposed of in this court, where the amount in controversy was less than $250. While in that case the transcript had not yet been filed, it was stated:

“ * * Although the defendant had come to this court with its transcript within that period, and had offered to file the transcript, it would have met with the legislative declaration that no appeal shall be allowed in an action of this kind. In the words of Railroad Co. v. Grant, supra [98 U. S. 398 (25 L. Ed. 231, see, also, Rose’s U. S. Notes)].

“ ‘The pending proceedings in the appellate court stop just where the rescinding act finds them.’ ”

We were then, and are now, of the opinion that the statute deprives us of jurisdiction to hear or determine any appeal in cases of the character mentioned, even though otherwise perfect, from the very moment the statute went into effect. Its effect was not retrospective as to our jurisdiction to hear the appeal; that was a matter of present moment, and the statute swept it away. This view is sustained by the authorities cited by Mr. Justice Burnett in Libby v. Southern Pacific, supra; Railroad Co. v. Grant, 98 U. S. 398 (25 L. Ed. 231); Ex parte McCardle, 7 Wall. (U. S.) 506 (19 L. Ed. 264); McNulty v. Batty, 10 How. (U. S.) 72 (13 L. Ed. 333, see, also, Rose’s U. S. Notes); Callahan v. Jennings, 16 Colo. 471 (27 Pac. 1055); Wallace v. Pecos & N. T. Ry. Co., 50 Tex. Civ. App. 296 (110 S. W. 162); People ex rel Crane v. Hahlo, 228 N. Y. 309 (127 N. E. 402).

The appeal must be dismissed, and it is so ordered.

Appeal Dismissed.