Reclamation District No. 535 v. Hamilton

44 P. 1074, 112 Cal. 603, 1896 Cal. LEXIS 719
CourtCalifornia Supreme Court
DecidedMay 13, 1896
DocketSac. No. 63
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 44 P. 1074 (Reclamation District No. 535 v. Hamilton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Reclamation District No. 535 v. Hamilton, 44 P. 1074, 112 Cal. 603, 1896 Cal. LEXIS 719 (Cal. 1896).

Opinion

Haynes, C.

Appeal from an order refusing to settle defendant’s statement on motion for a new trial, a»d dismissing said motion.

[606]*606After the service of defendant’s proposed statement the plaintiff, upon due notice, moved the court to refuse to settle the same, and to' dismiss defendant’s motion for a new trial, and to deny the same upon the following grounds: “1. That it is a mere skeleton statement, and does not substantially conform to the requirements of the Code of Civil Procedure; 2. That the same was not served within the time allowed by law, nor within the time to which the court had jurisdiction to extend the time, and the court made no order extending the time for preparing and serving the statement on motion for a new trial; 3. On the further ground that said alleged statement on'motion for a new trial was not served upon a judicial day, but was served upon the day of a general election.”

The court below granted the motion upon the second ground, and, while saying that it was not necessary to pass upon the other grounds, expressed the opinion that they were insufficient to sustain the motion. Respondent, however, insists that, if the motion was properly granted upon any or either of the grounds specified, the order must be affirmed, and discusses all of them.

1. It is true the appellant’s proposed statement should be a fair one; but nothing should be inserted, in ex-tenso, at least, but that which is pertinent to the questions made by the moving party; and necessary for their proper consideration. The first alleged defect in said proposed statement pointed out by respondent is an illustration of the proper mode of preparing statements. It is as follows: “ Plaintiff offered in evidence the following documentary evidence: Minutes of the board of trustees of Reclamation District No. 535, showing order employing J. C. Boyd, engineer; also the report of said engineer to the board of trustees.” No objection or exception was made, and no question seems to be made thereon, and, therefore, a copy of the minutes would only encumber the transcript and increase both labor and expenses. If, however, for any reason the opposite party deemed the whole, or some part of the [607]*607minutes essential to his protection upon the hearing of the motion, or upon appeal, it would be allowed as an amendment by the court upon the settlement of the statement, upon its materiality being shown. The code provides: “ The objection must be stated with so much of the evidence or other matter as is necessary to explain it, and no more.” (Code Civ. Proc., sec. 648.)

It is further objected that reference is made to certain records, thus: In minute-book of said board appears the following order on page 331 [here insert].”

This is common practice in preparing proposed statements. It is seldom that proposed statements are not amended, and almost invariably it becomes necessary to rewrite them. The reference to the document or record, with the remark “ here insert,” notifies the opposite party that it is to become part of the statement. Such reference would, of course, not be sufficient in the engrossed statement. Such engrossed statement would be a “ skeleton statement” as declared in People v. Bartlett, 40 Cal. 146, and Bush v. Taylor, 45 Cal. 112, cited by respondent. We see no such defects in this proposed statement as would justify the court in refusing to settle it.

2. We think the court erred in granting respondent’s motion upon the second ground therein stated. The ten days allowed by statute for serving the proposed statement expired October 4th, but was extended by stipulation of counsel until October 8th, and on that day was extended by order of the court to and including the 22d, and on that day again extended by order until and including November 6th, on which last-named day it was served. These orders extended the time twenty-nine days, and the stipulation four, in all thirty-three days. Respondent’s contention seems to be that the court had no power, in any event, to extend the time for a period which, added to the time allowed by the stipulation, would exceed thirty days. But he goes further and says that “ the code limits the power of the court to extend the time allowed by the code alone.” [608]*608From his argument we infer that he claims that the-stipulation cut off the power of the court to extend the-time at all. But these questions have been settled by Curtis v. Superior Court, 70 Cal. 390, and Simpson v. Budd, 91 Cal. 488, and need not be discussed.

Respondent contends, however, that the stipulation limits the time “ by agreement” to the eighth day of October in which to prepare, serve, and file the statement. The language of the stipulation in that regard is: “It is also agreed on the part of the defendants in said cases that they will use their utmost endeavors to-have the statement of the case settled by the judge, and will, at as early a day as possible, have their transcript on appeal printed,” etc. This was not an agreement that they would waive their right to prepare the statement and move for a new trial, if they failed to serve-their statement on the day named.

Some questions are also made upon the form of the-orders made by the court extending time. The orders were each in the following form, the dates only being different: “ Good cause appearing, it is hereby ordered that the defendants in each of the above-entitled cases have to and including the sixth day of November, 1894, in which to prepare, serve, and file their statement of' the case, and affidavits, on appeal to the supreme court of the above said cases.”

Notice of intention to move for a new trial had been served, and the stipulation extending time referred to the “statement on motion for a new trial.” It is impossible that respondent should have been misled by the error, and informalities and mistakes which do not mislead must be disregarded.

It is also said that the stipulation and orders were for time to “ prepare, serve, and file” the statement, and as the statement cannot be “filed” until it is settled, and as there was no settlement of the statement attempted within the time limited by the order, that the defendants were too late; that the order limited the settlement and filing as well as the preparation and service. But that. [609]*609could not have heen intended upon the one side, or so understood upon the other. ■ Counsel might reasonably stipulate against delay on his own part, but would not be likely to stipulate against delay on the part of opposing counsel when his delay might terminate the case, and, through mere delay on his part, win a victory.

It is further contended that the stipulation and orders above mentioned were never filed. The bill of exceptions contained in the record recites: “Defendant’s counsel introduced, as filed before the hearing of said motion, the following stipulations and orders, which were received in evidence.” There are two answers to this contention: 1. The above statement imports that they were filed before the hearing: 2. Respondent’s counsel expressly stipulated in writing that the orders and stipulation extending time need not be filed. Counsel for respondent cites section 283 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to the effect that an attorney shall have authority: “ 1.

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Bluebook (online)
44 P. 1074, 112 Cal. 603, 1896 Cal. LEXIS 719, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/reclamation-district-no-535-v-hamilton-cal-1896.