Early v. Ingham Circuit Judge

166 Mich. 517 | Mich. | 1911

Ostrander, C. J.

The relators and one Daniel W. Tussing submitted a controversy to arbitrators, with an agreement that a judgment should be entered in the circuit court for the county of Ingham upon the award. The arbitrators rendered a decision favorable to Tussing and the next day, December 2, 1910, filed their award. A motion to confirm the award is pending. Relators have not moved to vacate or modify the award, as under the statute they may do. 3 Comp. Laws, § 10932. January 9, 1911, relators filed their sworn bill in the circuit court for the county of Ingham, in chancery, against the said Daniel W. Tussing, in which they pray that the award of the arbitrators be vacated and set aside, and that a temporary injunction issue restraining the said Tussing from taking any proceedings to enforce said award. Other relief is prayed. Defendant answered the bill of complaint, and the answer is verified. The court, upon the bill, answer, and such affidavits and exhibits as were presented, declined to issue the restraining order, whereupon the relators filed their petition in this court, praying that a writ of mandamus issue to compel the said circuit judge to grant a temporary injunction restraining the said defendant “ from any further proceedings upon his motion to confirm the award,” and also requiring him “ to grant a stay of proceedings in a matter now pending in said circuit court for the county of Ingham, entitled ‘ In the matter of the arbitration of the differences between Daniel W. Tussing and Early & Fitzpatrick,5 until a final hearing and determination55 of the said chancery proceeding. The answer to the order to show cause issued by this court has brought upon the record the motion to confirm the award and the demurrer thereto, the bill of complaint, and the answer thereto, the opinion of the circuit judge, and certain affidavits. The entire return was not printed, so that the court has not before it, except by reference to the files in the office of the clerk, the record considered by the court below in denying the temporary injunction.

The burden is upon relators to show that in refusing the temporary injunction the court below did not use proper discretion, and the cases are few in which this court has interfered to compel the granting of temporary restraining orders, or to set aside such orders. An examination of the bill and answer does not convince us that we should interfere in this case, although there is a consideration, quite apart from the showing of merits, which might have influenced the court below to grant the injunction. That consideration arises out of the apparent incongruity of action, confirming an award and entering judgment thereon, by the law judge, who, as chancellor, must determine whether the award ought to be set aside.

The circuit court, in chancery, has jurisdiction to set aside an award of arbitrators. 3 Comp. Laws, § 10945; Kearney v. Insurance Co., 126 Mich. 246 (85 N. W. 733). It has been held that the filing of a bill for this purpose will not, without injunction, stay the entry of judgment on the award. Seaton v. Kendall, 61 Ill. App. 289; Id., 171 Ill. 410 (49 N. E. 561). Having invoked the aid of the chancery court, relators are not required to pursue the statute remedy of a motion to vacate the award.

However, there appears to be no legal objection to the prosecution of proceedings, on the one side to enforce, and on the other to set aside, an award, although manifestly action at law to enforce the award is at peril of having the award set aside in equity. It is not made to appear that relators, complainants in equity, will suffer injury if the award is confirmed. We may assume that proceedings will be so controlled that neither party will be damaged.

The writ is denied.

Bird, Hooker, Moore, and McAlvay, JJ., concurred.