McLean v. Underdal

11 N.W.2d 102, 73 N.D. 74, 1943 N.D. LEXIS 63
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 23, 1943
DocketFile No. 6873.
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 11 N.W.2d 102 (McLean v. Underdal) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McLean v. Underdal, 11 N.W.2d 102, 73 N.D. 74, 1943 N.D. LEXIS 63 (N.D. 1943).

Opinion

*77 Morris, Ch. J.

A motion was made in the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal. This motion is based upon two grounds: 1st. that the notice of appeal is not supported by a sufficient undertaking and 2nd. that the statement of the case was not settled within the time prescribed by statute, and that the trial court abused its discretion in extending the time for settlement of the statement in that no “good cause” was shown by the appellant.

The practice question arising on the defective undertaking involves the following facts. A notice of appeal and an undertaking were served on attorneys for the respondent on August 21, 1942, and filed in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Pierce County on the same day. This undertaking was defective in its terms and its execution. The sureties did not justify in the manner prescribed by § 7837, N. D. *78 Comp. Laws 1913. A motion was made by tbe appellant to file a substituted undertaking.

. On motion of tbe appellant tbe trial court on October 20, 1942, entered an order permitting tbe appellant to file an amended undertaking. At tbe bearing on tbe motion tbe respondent objected to tbe 'jurisdiction of tbe trial court to entertain tbe motion or to make an order permitting' tbe filing of sucb undertaking. He argues tbat tbe trial court lost jurisdiction when the notice of appeal and tbe first undertaking were served and filed, and tbat thereafter only the Supreme Court bad jurisdiction to permit an amendment.

In Stewart v. Lyness, 22 ND 149, 132 NW 768, this court held tbat an undertaking supported by an affidavit tbat fails to state tbat .the property of tbe sureties is within tbe state in tbe amount specified is ineffectual for any purpose, and dismissed tbe appeal. No attempt was made by tbe appellant to amend tbe defective undertaking either in tbe Supreme Court or tbe court below.

In Burger v. Sinclair, 24 ND 326, 140 NW 235, it was held tbat where a notice of appeal was given in good faith, and tbat defects in tbe undertaking on appeal were occasioned through mistake or accident, tbe appellant would be given leave to supply tbe defects pursuant to tbe provisions of § 7224 Revised Codes (§ 7840, N. D. Comp. Laws 1913).

Permission to amend a defective undertaking on appeal was granted by this court in W. T. Rawleigh Medical Co. v. Laursen, 25 ND 63, 141 NW 64, 48 LRA(NS) 198; and Wasson v. Brotherhood of R. R. Trainmen, 65 ND 246, 257 NW 635. See also Gamble-Robinson Minot Co. v. Mauratis, 55 ND 616, 214 NW 913.

In tbe above cases application for leave to amend was made in tbe Supreme Court. Tbe respondent contends tbat after tbe appeal has been taken by tbe giving of notice of appeal only tbe Supreme Court can grant authority to amend tbe undertaking. In tbe cases cited this court rests its authority to grant tbe amendment on § 7840, N. D. Comp. Laws 1913 which provides: “When a party shall in good faith give notice of appeal and shall omit through mistake or accident to do any other act necessary to perfect tbe appeal to make it effectual or to stay proceedings, tbe court from which tbe appeal is taken or tbe *79 presiding judge thereof or the supreme court, or any one of the justices thereof, may permit an amendment or the proper act to be done on such terms as may be just.” This section not only authorizes the Supreme Court to permit such an amendment, but also and without distinction confers the same authority upon “the court from which the appeal is taken, or the presiding judge thereof.” In commenting on this section in Sucker State Drill Co. v. Brock & Richardson, 18 ND 8, 118 NW 348, this court said: “The statute is remedial in its character, and is intended to favor the perfecting of attempted appeals.”

Section 1840, supra, makes no distinction between the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the jurisdiction of the court from which the appeal is taken in so far as allowing amendments is concerned. To read into the statute by construction such distinction would border on judicial legislation restricting rather than favoring the perfecting of appeals. We hold that the court had jurisdiction to grant the filing of the amended undertaking.

The respondent also objects to the undertaking on the ground that it fails to undertake that the appellant will obey the orders of the Supreme Court on appeal. This feature deals with the stay of execution. It is not before us on the motion to dismiss the appeal. The undertaking is sufficient as an appeal bond.

As a second ground for dismissing the appeal, the respondent challenges the procedure involving the settlement of the statement of the case. It appears that the trial court granted a motion by the appellant for an extension of time within which to settle the statement. This motion was made more than thirty days after the notice of entry of judgment. The respondent argues that the statement of the case was not settled within the time prescribed by statute and that the trial court abused its discretion in entertaining and granting a motion extending the time for settlement after the thirty day statutory period had expired. The grounds thus urged may not be considered by this court upon a motion to dismiss the appeal. The motion deals with the right of the appellant to have its appeal considered on the merits. This is an appeal from a judgment. Whether the statement of the case has been settled deals only with the scope of review.

*80 In 3 Am Jur 305, Appeal and Error, § 726, we find the following statement dealing with general principles applicable to motions for dismissal of appeals.

“The grounds for dismissal consist of facts which go to show that for some reason the merits of the appeal should not be heard. These grounds fall into four broad general classes: (1) Want of jurisdiction on the part of the court — using that term in the sense of a lack of power either inherent in the court or conferred upon it by Constitution or statute, as distinguished from any limitation arising out of the nature of the action or proceeding, or of the judgment or order, or out of any errors, omissions, or defects in the procedure; (2) the nonappealable character of the judgment or order; (3) the ineffectiveness of any judgment that might be rendered by the appellate court; and (4) defects in procedure. An appeal or error proceeding may also be dismissed for failure to prosecute diligently.

“A motion to dismiss a writ of error on the ground that one of the matters put in issue in the court below did not appear by the record to have been decided, was refused where the issue which was found by the jury made the plea, upon which no issue appears to have been decided, immaterial.”

In Gram v. Northern P. R. Co. 1 ND 252, 46 NW 972, the same question is considered and the proper practice suggested.

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Bluebook (online)
11 N.W.2d 102, 73 N.D. 74, 1943 N.D. LEXIS 63, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mclean-v-underdal-nd-1943.