Everett v. Jones

91 P. 360, 32 Utah 489, 1907 Utah LEXIS 64
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 16, 1907
DocketNo. 1836
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 91 P. 360 (Everett v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Everett v. Jones, 91 P. 360, 32 Utah 489, 1907 Utah LEXIS 64 (Utah 1907).

Opinion

STBAUP, J.

Tbis is an action brought by plaintiff against defendant for an accounting. It is alleged in the complaint that the plaintiff delivered to the defendant, an attorney at law, moneys and notes to the amount and value of $3,042.80, to be by him loaned and collected for the use and benefit of the plaintiff, and that the defendant had neglected and refused to account to her, but had converted the moneys and proceeds to His own use. Defendant demurred to the .complaint for want of facts, and on the further ground that the cause of action was barred by the statute of limitations. The demurrer was overruled. The defendant answered, denying all the material allegations of the complaint, and pleading the statute of limitations and counterclaims — one on a note of $55, executed by plaintiff to the defendant, which, it was alleged, remained unpaid, and upon which judgment was demanded for $81; one on a note for $23.44, executed by plaintiff to the defendant, upon which judgment was demanded for $34.19; and one for $500 for services rendered and performed by the defendant for the plaintiff as an attorney, and for costs paid out by him on her behalf. The plaintiff replied, denying the allegations of the counterclaims. Upon these issues the case was tried before Hon. Charles H. Hart, judge of the First judicial district court in and for the county of Box Elder, and after the taking of evidence on behalf of both parties for four or five days the court, on the 20th day of November, 1903, [492]*492made a finding that a trust relation existed between the plaintiff and the defendant, and that in accordance therewith the defendant came into possession of certain funds of the plaintiff, with respect to which she was entitled to an accounting, and thereupon the court ordered that the defendant make an accounting of the funds so received by him before the court on the 8th day of December, 1903. Upon objection made by the defendant to Judge Hart’s further proceeding with the case, and upon defendant’s request that the case be concluded before another judge, Hon. John E. Booth, judge of the Fourth judicial district, was authorized to further try the case, commencing on the 29th day of December, 1904. On that day the case was regularly called before Judge Booth. The defendant failed and refused to make an accounting, or otherwise to comply with the order of the court made on the 20th day of November, 1903, and objected to any further proceedings being had in the case, claiming that the court had no authority to make the order, and that the court had lost jurisdiction of the case. These objections were all overruled. Plaintiff’s counsel then demanded that judgment by default (because of the defendant’s failure to comply with the order) be entered against him for the sum of $3,202, which sum, it was claimed, the defendant admitted to have been received by him, as evidenced by a statement furnished by him to the plaintiff, which statement was attached to the complaint and made a part thereof. The default was so entered. The defendant having declined and refused to make an accounting or to comply with the order, Judge Btooth thereupon made findings reciting the order theretofore made by Judge Hart, the defendant’s refusal to comply therewith, and the entering of the default, and without hearing further evidence found that the defendant, on or about the 1st day of January, 1889, received from the plaintiff moneys and notes in the sum of $3,042.80, which the defendant had agreed to lend and collect for the use and benefit of the plaintiff, and to pay the principal and interest to> her from time to time on her demand; that in June, 1896, the defendant rendered plaintiff a statement showing that the defendant [493]*493held $3,202 belonging to tbe plaintiff; and tbat on or about June, 1897; tbe defendant paid to tbe plaintiff tbe sum of $100; interest money, but since tbe date last aforesaid tbe defendant bad not paid anything to tbe plaintiff, and bad failed and refused to account to ber, although often requested so to do. As conclusions of law tbe court found tbat tbe plaintiff was entitled to a judgment against tbe defendant for tbe sum of $3,202, less tbe payment of $100, together with interest at 8 per cent; per annum from 1896. Judgment was entered accordingly, from which tbe defendant has prosecuted this appeal.

We are asked to dismiss tbe appeal because not taken in time. Tbe findings were made and filed, and judgment was entered thereon, on tbe 29th day of December, 1904. On the 16th day of January, 1905, defendant served and filed bis motion for a new trial. This motion was overruled on tbe 20th day of June, 1906. We have- repeatedly held tbat in this state an appeal lies only from tbe judgment, and not from an order denying or granting a new trial; tbat tbe judgment is not final while a motion for a new trial, made within tbe time allowed by law, is pending and undisposed of; and tbat an appeal may be taken within six months from tbe overruling of tbe motion for a new .trial- If appellant has filed bis motion for a new trial within tbe time allowed by law, bis appeal is within time; otherwise, it is not. Tbe statute provides (section 3294, itev. St. 1898) tbat a party intending to move for a new trial must, within five days after tbe verdict of tbe jury, or after notice of tbe decision of tbe court or referee, if tbe action were tried without a jury, serve and file a notice of such intention. In this case the motion for tbe new trial was not served nor filed until nineteen days after tbe findings were filed and judgment was entered. Tbe material question here is: When did tbe five-day period begin to run? Tbe statute provides tbat tbe party intending to move for a new trial must within five days after notice of the decision of tbe court or referee, if tbe action were tried without a jury, file and serve bis notice of intention. Section 8330 of tbe statute provides that all .notices must be in writ[494]*494ing. It is not made to appear of record that any written notice was served upon the defendant of the decision of the court. The contention made by the appellant is that the five days did not begin to run until such a notice was served upon him or his counsel, and as no written notice was served of the decision the motion for a new trial was made within time. Oh the contrary, it is urged by respondent that the bill of exceptions prepared by the appellant shows that on the 29th day of December, when the findings were presented to the court, and before they were signed and filed the defendant was possessed of the proposed findings, and objected to the court’s making findings, upon the ground that the court was without authority 'to do so, that Judge Hart, and not Judge Booth, heard the evidence and that the latter heard no evidence upon which the alleged findings of fact could be based; that the findings were not warranted nor supported by the pleadings; that the appellant then and there made various other specific objections to each of the proposed findings of fact, and likewise, for the same additional reasons, the appellant objected to the court’s signing the decree as proposed by respondent ; that the court then and there overruled all of appellant’s objections, to each of which rulings the appellant then and there • excepted; that the court then and there, and on the same day, signed and filed findings and decree as proposed by the respondent; and that because of such proceedings, and of appellant’s participation therein, the respondent was not required to' serve a written notice of the decision in order to start the running of the five-day period.

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Bluebook (online)
91 P. 360, 32 Utah 489, 1907 Utah LEXIS 64, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/everett-v-jones-utah-1907.