223 F. 611 | 6th Cir. | 1915
Petition for writ of mandamus directing respondent to approve and settle bill of exceptions in the case of Camden Iron Works v. City of Cincinnati. Respondent’s reasons, given in his answer, for not approving and signing a bill of exceptions are, broadly stated, first, that no completed bill ready for approval and signature was ever presented to him; second, that respondent had lost jurisdiction to sign and settle the bill, because the time therefor had expired; and, third, that, if respondent still had discretionary power to extend the time, it ought not to be exercised because of petitioner’s lack of diligence in preparing the bill. t
The question of jurisdiction arises in this way: Judgment was entered September 11, 1914, and 60 days given plaintiff for preparing bill of exceptions and assignment of errors and filing the same for the consideration of the court. November 9th another extension of 10 days was given. On November 18th or 19th respondent signed an extension for 15 days and mailed it to' petitioner’s counsel, who received it on November 19th, but did not file it with the clerk of the court until November 21st. Three days later defendant filed a motion to vacate the order of extension on the ground (so far as now material) that it was filed two days late and that the court had no ‘jurisdiction to make the extension or to sign a bill of exceptions. This motion was entertained by the court, but was not decided until December 21st. Meanwhile, on December 11th, defendant filed objections and proposed amendments to the bill of exceptions tendered; its objections expressly stating that its motion of November 24th was not waived. On the.next day plaintiff’s counsel presented to respondent a proposed bill, stating, however, that certain exhibits had not been made part thereof, and that a controversy existed to some extent between opposing counsel regarding the contents of the bill. Respondent de
The petition for writ.of error and draft of order of allowance seem to have been lodged with the clerk of the court in December, and thus within 6 months after judgment; and we understood a claim to be made at the argument of the instant case that issue of the writ was actually applied for during that month. As this claim involves a disputed question of fact not within the issues in the mandamus case (for the 6 months had not run when the petition and answer were filed), we shall not attempt to determine whether petitioner has preserved right to writ of error, but shall leave that question to be decided when, if ever, it becomes material.
The petition for writ of mandamus is dismissed, with costs.