Thompson v. Ackerman

12 Ohio Cir. Dec. 456
CourtOhio Circuit Courts
DecidedApril 15, 1901
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 12 Ohio Cir. Dec. 456 (Thompson v. Ackerman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Circuit Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thompson v. Ackerman, 12 Ohio Cir. Dec. 456 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1901).

Opinion

Mooney, J.

The original action was in forcible entry and detainer brought in the court of Miner A. Atmur, a justice of the peace of this county. In that action Joseph C. Thompson, as owner of certain premises, sought to recover the possession because, as he alleged, the lease under which Chas. I/. Ackerman occupied the same had become forfeited by reason of the use thereof by said Ackerman for gaming purposes. The defendant, Ackerman, in thatt action filed what is called his answer, and therein denied that the premises were used for gaming purposes, and averred that in 1894 the premises in question were owned in fee by one Satterthwaite, and that said owner, being so seized, executed a lease thereof to one Freel for the term of five years and renewable at the option of said lessee for a further term of five years ; that thereafter Freel assigned the term to one Michael Ackerman, and that Michael Ackerman duly exercised the option and renewed the term; that said Satterthwaite died intestate and the lands decended to his heirs who, about July, 1897, conveyed the same in fee to Thompson; that Charles T,. Ackerman holds as sub-lessee under Michael Ackerman, and has never had any relation, by contract or otherwise, with Satterthwaite or his heirs, with Thompson or Freel; that Michael Ackerman has never used said premises for any unlawful purpose, and has never permitted or had knowledge of any such use. Charles asks that Thompson be required to make Michael a party defendant, and that the action as to him, Charles, máy be dismissed.

March 16, 1900, trial was had to a jury resulting in a verdict for Thompson, and judgment for restitution was thereupon rendered. March 17, a motion was filed by the defendant for a new trial, assigning as grounds therefor that the verdict was against the weight of evidence and not supported by sufficient evidence; that the court erred in the admission and rejection of evidence; that the court erred in not sustaining defendant’s motion to direct a ve diet for defendant at the close of plaintiff’s case in chief; and that the court erred in his charge to the jury and in his refusal to charge as requested. On March 21, this motion was heard and overruled and the court, a second time, entered [462]*462judgment of restitution and at the same time fixed eight days from said date a§ the time within which defendant might prepare and present his bill o¿ exceptions. March 29, defendant filed his bill of exceptions which was then allowed and signed by the justice of peace. This bill of exceptions embodies all the evidence and sets out all rulings and orders made by the court on the trial of the cause.

On leave, the defendant, as plaintiff in error, filed his petition in error in the common pleas and assigned as error the refusal of the court, on defendant’s motion, to require plaintiff below to make Michael Ackerman a party defendant, and meanwhile, either to dismiss the complaint as to the defendant or suspend the trial of the cause. The other errors assigned are, that the court erred in overruling the motion for a new tria!, and the several matters stated in said motion as grounds for new trial are also assigned as errors.

On trial in the common pleas the court reversed the judgment.

First — For error in overruling motion for new trial because Thompson could not, under Sec. 4276, Rev. Stat., maintain the action during the term, the right of election to declare the forfeiture being reserved to Satterthwaite and his heirs, and not passing by conveyance to Thompson.

Second — Said justice of the peace had no jurisdiction to entertain said action or pronounce said judgment, because Michael Ackerman is a necessary party defendant.

Third — For error in the charge given, in this ; that the court charged “ if you find from the evidence and admissions in this case that gaming was permitted or carried on in said premises then your verdict shall be guilty as charged in the complaint.”

To reverse this judgment of reversal this action is brought in this court.

It will be observed that all errors assigned in the common pleas are predicated upon the bill of exceptions. Section 6565, Rev. Stat., as amended April 12, 1898, 93 O. E., 104, and since in force, provides that the justice of the peace shall fix a time to prepare the bill of exceptions not less than five or more than ten days from date of judgment or overruling motion for new trial. Section 6560, as amended March 17, 1898, 93 O. L., 51, and since in force, provides that: “ It shall be lawful for ' the justice before whom a cause has been tried, on motion, and being satisfied that the verdict was obtained by fraud, partiality or undue means, at any time within four days after the entering of judgment to grant a new trial.”

This trial was had and judgment entered March 16; the motion for new trial was heard March 21, five days after, and the bill of exceptions was allowed, signed and filed March 29, thirteen days after judgment.

In Derby, Jr., v. Heath, 59 Ohio St., 54 [51 N. E. Rep., 547], decided under another statute, which fixed the time for granting a new trial at five days, instead of four days as now provided, it was held, “the authority of a justice of the peace to grant a new trial is limited by the terms of Sec. 6560 by which it is conferred, and an order made by him for that purpose after the time therein limited is void.”

In Dunlap v Robinson, 12 Ohio St., 530, the court say, p. 534: “A justice of the peace cannot, by neglecting or refusing to enter judgment within the time reqrired by statute, keep an action indefinitely pending before himself. When his power to determine the controversy, by a valid judgment, ceases, his jurisdiction ends. His power of adjudica[463]*463tion is derived irom the statute and if not exercised within the time allowed by law it is clearly lost and the cause is no longer pending before him. The legal effect ol such a failure in duty is a discontinuance of the action. ‘ So jurisdiction may be lost by an adjournment of the suit, without consent of parties, for a time longer than the statute permits.”

It follows that in adjourning the hearing of the motion for new trial to a time when the justice of the peace had no jurisdiction to render a valid judgment on the motion, jurisdiction was lost unless parties consented to such adjournment.

The court being one of inferior jurisdiction, this consent conferring jurisdiction must appear of record, and appearance at the time of hearing so fixed is not such consent. Derby v. Heath-, supra.

The justice of the peace, therefore, on March 21, was without jurisdiction to hear this motion, the cause was discontinued, and an order then made fixing a time to prepare a bill of exceptions was a nullity, and the bill prepared and filed thirteen days after judgment can not be considered by a reviewing court. No errors being assigned, save those predicated upon the bill of exceptions, this ruling would be conclusive of the matter, but inasmuch as this point was not argued by counsel, and being mindful that the statute forbids courts and judges to practice law, we have considered the cause upon the merits.

It is first objected that there is a defect of parties defendant. Charles A. Ackerman contends that he is not liable; that no cause of action exists or can exist against him, but that the cause of action, if any, is against Michael. The case as claimed by Charles, is the same as if A were sued upon a promissory note and upon which not A, but B was liable.

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Bluebook (online)
12 Ohio Cir. Dec. 456, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thompson-v-ackerman-ohiocirct-1901.