80 Iowa 343 | Iowa | 1890
— Appellee contends that, this oeing a law action, it cannot be reviewed in this court, because the record does not show upon what evidence the case was tried before the referee, because no exceptions were taken before or bill signed by the referee, and because no exceptions were taken to the report of the referee. The record shows clearly that the case was submitted to the referee on the agreed statement of facts, and on the pleadings and contracts set out therein, and that no other evidence was offered. The agreed statement of facts, pleadings and contracts set out therein all appear in the record. There were no exceptions taken before the referee, and no other exceptions to his report than that “the defendant orally objected to said report, and asked leave to have the same set aside, and for judgment as prayed in his answer and
It has been repeatedly held that this court will not review on appeal a ruling of the lower court to which exception is not duly taken. “An exception is an objection taken to a decision of the court, or party acting as a court, on matter of law.” Code, sec. 2831. “ The report of the referee * * * shall stand as the finding of the court, and judgment may be entered thereon in the same manner as if the action had been tried by the court. The report may be excepted to and reviewed in like manner.” Code, sec. 2821. The exceptions herein referred to are not such as are taken before the referee under section 2823, but those taken to the report after its return to the court. Michael v. Longman, 42 Iowa, 484. An exception taken to a judgment rendered upon such report is not sufficient, under said section 2821, to bring up for review in an appellate court alleged error in the report itself. Bauder v. Hinckley, 60 Iowa, 185. In that case it is stated: “It appears to us, therefore, that, where the appellant desires to assail the report, he should file exceptions to the same in the trial court.' The appellant in this case having failed to do so, errors assigned upon the report present, we think, nothing for our review.”
While it is true that, an exception is an objection, it does not follow that every objection is an exception such as to present the point of objection for review. In the case last cited, the question presented was whether, in a case where a report of a referee has been confirmed, and judgment rendered accordingly, the appellant can be allowed to present exceptions which had not appeared by proper exception to have been specifically presented to the consideration of the court