Bonesteel v. Orvis

31 Wis. 117 | Wis. | 1872

Cole, J.

It seems to us tbat there can be no doubt about tbe appealability of this order. It is one which vacates a previous order made, dismissing tbe action for want of prosecution. The action was dismissed because, as it was claimed, no proceedings bad been taken in the court below within a year from tbe time of entering a judgment of reversal in this court, and ordering a new trial. In Walsh v. Dart, 19 Wis., 433, such an order was reviewed by this court; and, although no objection was there taken tbat tbe order was not appealable, yet, bad it been, we are confident it would have been overruled.

Tbe defendant contends tbat, as tbe action was properly dismissed under chap. 185, Laws of 1864, this order should not have been made. It appears tbat tbe judgment of reversal and for a new trial was made and entered in this court February 28, 1868. On tbe 23rd of February, 1869, tbe plaintiff’s attorney served upon tbe attorney of tbe defendant a notice to tbe effect tbat tbe cause bad been remitted to tbe circuit court, and that, on tbe 3rd of March following, be should move tbe circuit court to vacate its judgment theretofore rendered, pursuant to the order of the supreme court. No further proceedings were had in the cause until the 26th of March, 1869, when the judge of the Fond du Lac circuit court endorsed upon the notice the following: “I decline giving any direction or making any order in the above entitled action, having been of counsel in the cause.” The circuit judge being thus disqualified to act, no other proceedings were taken until February 1, 1870, when, on the suggestion of said judge, the cause was sent to the circuit court for Winnebago county, where it was subsequently dismissed.

These being the material facts, the question arises, Was the cause properly dismissed for want of prosecution? Chapter 185 provides, that, where the supreme court orders a new trial or further proceedings, the record shall be transmitted to the court below, “ and proceedings shall be had thereon within one year from the time of entering in the supreme court such an order for a new trial or further proceedings, or, in default thereof, such cause shall be considered and treated as discontinued and dismissed, unless the court, for good cause shown, shall order otherwise.” The manifest object of this statute is to secure a proper degree of diligence in the prosecution of suits which have been brought to this court and a new trial ordered. And, unless some step is taken in the cause within a year after the reversal in the supreme court, the action is to be treated as discontinued. In this case we think there were proceedings taken before the limitation expired. The counsel for the plaintiffs gave the notice before referred to, that he should make a motion thereinto have the judgment theretofore entered, vacated, pursuant to the order of this court. It is said that such a motion was entirely unnecessary, and not recognized in the practice in this state. It may be that no formal motion of this kind is essential, but we cannot say that it was improper and that it was not a proceeding in the cause within the spirit and intent of chap. 185. We are inclined to the opinion that it was such a proceeding,.and that the circuit court very properly vacated the order of dismissal as being improvidently made.

By the Court. — The order of the circuit court is affirmed.