144 Me. 367 | Me. | 1949
Action on the case brought by the plaintiff, Bodwell-Leighton Co. against the defendant, Coffin & Wimple, Inc., seeking to recover from the defendant the amount due for work and labor performed and parts and materials used in repairing a 1947 Plymouth four door sedan owned
The case purports to come before this court in regular form and this court is asked to sustain the exceptions of the defendant. At the outset this court is confronted by Rule 17 of the Rules of Court, 129 Me., Page 503, 509; 43 A. 507, under the paragraph entitled “Motions for New Trials.” Among other things Rule 17 states:
“If addressed to the presiding justice, it shall be heard either at term time' or vacation at his discretion and in either case, the decision may be rendered in vacation and no exceptions lie to such decision and no appeal except in prosecution for felony.”
This rule of court is conclusive on the right to exceptions. In the case of Hill v. Finnemore, 132 Me. 459, 471; 172 A. 826, 832, this court said “Rules of Court” lawfully established “have the force of law and are binding upon the court, as well as upon parties to an action, and cannot be dispensed with, to suit the circumstances of any particular case.” Cunningham v. Long, 125 Me. 494, 496; 135 A. 198; Fox v. Conway Fire Insurance Co., 53 Me. 107; Nickerson v. Nickerson, 36 Me. 417; Mayberry v. Morse, 43 Me. 176.
It was suggested to the Law Court at the time of argument, although not mentioned in the briefs of the parties, that the last paragraph of R. S., Chap. 91, Sec. 14, might have some application in this matter, but in view of the fact that that section has recently been construed by this court in Carroll v. Carroll, 144 Me. 171; 66 A. (2nd) 809, and in Sea7‘s, Roebuck & Co. v. City of Portland, 144 Me. 250; 68 A. (2nd) 12, this court is of the opinion that the last paragraph of said Section 14 does not apply for the very reasons stated in Carroll v. Carroll, supra, and Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. City of Portland, supra. This court said in the two cases last cited that the Law Court can hear and determine only those matters authorized by statute and brought to it through the statutory course of procedure. Both of these limitations on the power of the court are jurisdictional and neither of them can be waived nor can consent of the parties confer jurisdiction upon the court. The instant action purports to come to this court upon exceptions when exceptions do not lie. In fact, this case is an attempt to have this court review a non-reviewable ruling of the presiding justice. Neither by exceptions, appeal or motion could this ruling be reviewed. There is now no way prescribed by statute or rule of court by which this action can now be brought be
It, therefore, follows that the exceptions are dismissed as improvidently allowed.
So ordered.