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ROY STEBBINS v. FRIEND, CROSBY & COMPANY; FRANK KROM v. SAME DEFENDANT

Minnesota Supreme Court1931-09-25No. Nos. 28,687, 28,688
184 Minn. 177

Summary

Holding. The motion to quash the writs of certiorari is denied. The orders striking the cases from the calendar are not final and appealable because the cases remain pending in the trial court for further action.

Two cases involving promissory notes were consolidated on appeal. The trial court had previously set aside judgments against the plaintiffs on condition that they pay the defendant's attorney a specified amount plus costs before amending their complaints. After the defendant's attorney satisfied the judgments and accepted payment, the plaintiffs moved for judgment when the defendant failed to answer the amended complaints. The trial court initially denied this motion, treating the original answers as responsive to the amended complaints, but later reversed course and struck the cases from the calendar. The plaintiffs then sought writs of certiorari to challenge the order striking the cases.

The defendant moved to quash the writs, arguing that the orders striking the cases from the calendar were appealable rather than subject to certiorari review. The court rejected this argument, holding that the orders were not final because the cases remained pending in the trial court and subject to further action, such as possible relief from alleged non-compliance or reconsideration of whether the defendant had waived certain fees by accepting payment.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether orders striking cases from calendar are final and appealable or subject to certiorari review
  • Whether defendant waived compliance requirements by satisfying judgment and accepting payment
  • Proper remedy for reviewing non-final trial court orders

Procedural posture

The plaintiffs obtained writs of certiorari to review trial court orders striking their cases from the calendar, and the defendant moved to quash the writs on the ground that the orders were appealable.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Per Curiam.

In two actions on promissory notes judgments were entered in favor of defendant for $15.50 costs. On motion these judgments were set aside and plaintiffs were allowed to file amended complaints “all upon condition that the plaintiff pay to defendant’s attorney the full amount of the balance due on the execution issued on said judgment, together with twenty dollars ($20) costs, and after that is done defendant is allowed twenty (20) days in which to serve his answfer.” In each case defendant’s attorney was tendered $35.50, but he refused to accept and appealed in each case to this court, where the orders were affirmed (178 Minn. 519, 228 N. W. 150) on December 6, 1929. On January 21, 1930, the attorney for defendant satisfied the judgments and receipted for the $20 costs in each case imposed by the orders. Then followed a motion by each plaintiff for judgment for want of ansivers to the amended complaints. This motion ivas denied November 1, 1930, the court considering that the original answers stood as answers to the amended complaints. Plaintiffs noticed the cases for trial, and defendant moved to strike them from the calendar. The motions were denied by orders filed March 20, 1931. Thereafter defendant moved to set aside the orders of March 20 and substitute in place thereof orders striking the cases from the calendar, or in the alternative allowing defendant 20 days in which to answer the amended complaints. The court reversed itself and struck the cases from the calendar. Plaintiffs obtained writs of certiorari to review the orders. Defendant now moves to quash the writ. The two cases Avere consolidated in this court.

We understand that the required undertakings have now been filed, and facts are sufficiently set forth in the petitions for the writs to determine Avhether or not certiorari is the proper remedy to secure a consideration by this court of the action of the court beloAV in striking the causes from the calendar. Defendant contends that the orders Avere appealable. If so, the writs Avere improvidently granted and should be quashed. Neumann v. Edwards, 146 Minn. 179, 178 N. W. 589, and cases therein cited. The decision upon Avlxich defendant chiefly relies is Chadbourne v. Reed, 83 Minn. 447, 86 N. W. 415, Avherein an order striking the case from the calendar of Eamsey county district court on the ground that the venue had been changed under the proAdsion of the statute to Anoka county was held appealable as a final order involving the- merits. It is clear that by striking from the calendar of Eamsey county on the ground stated the case was forever at an end in the district court of that county, and the order was appealable as a final order. No judgment could be entered from which to appeal. But here the cases are still pending in Dakota county. No judgments can be entered. Upon proper application and shoAving the court who made these orders might still relieve from the alleged failure to pay the dollar which was lacking in full compliance of the order; or, on revieAV, this court may hold that by satisfying the judgments and receipting for the costs defendant waived the dollar for the sheriffs fees. The case is therefore still for further action in the court below, and the orders sought to be reviewed are not final so as to be appealable as snch.

The motion to quash is denied.