87 Wis. 313 | Wis. | 1894
The courts of this state are bound, by constitutional mandate, to give full faith and credit “ to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of ewery other state.” Const. of U. S. art. IV, sec. 1; Sanborn v. Perry, 86 Wis. 361. If a judgment is conclusive in the state where rendered, then it is equally conclusive in every other state of the Union; and if it is re-examinable there, then it is open to the same inquiries in every other state. Ibid. In order to entitle such public acts, records, and judicial proceeding of other states to such faith and credit, they must be proved as facts by competent evidence. Osborn v Blackburn, 78 Wis. 209; Hanley v. Donoghue, 116 U. S. 1; Chicago & A. R. Co. v. Wiggins Ferry Co. 119 U. S. 616. Here, there is no question but that the judicial proceedings and the record of the alleged judgment in the supreme court of New York for Kings county are properly authenticated under the seal of that court, and, with the statutes of New York, are in evidence. To entitle such judgment to such full faith and credit, it must appear from such record that the court rendering the same had jurisdiction of the person of the defendant and of the subject matter of the action or proceeding. Thompson v. Whitman, 18 Wall. 457; Knowles v. G. L. & C. Co. 19 Wall. 58; Simmons v. Saul, 138 U. S. 439. Here there can be no question but that the New York court obtained jurisdiction of the person of both the
The only serious question presented is whether the record before us is a record in an action or judicial proceeding, within the meaning of the. constitutional provision mentioned. In other words, did the court have jurisdiction of the1 subject matter? It seems to have been well established at common law that under proper circumstances a court would entertain summary jurisdiction to compel an attorney, as an officer of the court, to deliver papers to his client or to any other person rightfully entitled to the same. Strong v. How, 8 Mod. 339; Hughes v. Mayre, 3 Term, 215; In re Aitkin, 4 Barn. & Ald. 47. Especially should that be
The Revised Code of New York provides that an appeal may be taken to the general term from an interlocutory judgment rendered at a special term. Bliss’ Ann. Code N. Y. sec. 1349. That Code also provides, in effect, that costs in a special proceeding instituted in a court of record,
The statutes of Hew York appear to have authorized the proceeding had, and everything done in the courts of that state, in the controversy in question. It may be that the defendant was not obliged to submit the determination of the amount of his claim for services to the court or referee in such summary proceeding, but he, as well as the plaintiff, did voluntarily so submit the same. The defendant insisted upon the plaintiff’s abiding by the result, so long as the determination was in his favor, and it was too late for him to escape the payment of costs incurred therein, after the order or judgment in his favor was reversed by the general term.
It must be observed that the defendants in? the libel and slander suits were in no way interested in, and could in no way be affected by, such determination of the controversy between the plaintiff and the defendant. The defendant’s connection with those actions was only as an attorney to prosecute the same; and the determination of the controversy between him and the plaintiff could in no way affect the judgment to be entered in either of those actions, and
We must hold that the adjudication in pursuance of the mandate of the general term was in effect a final judgment against the defendant. If it was erroneous, it should have been corrected in the court of appeals of that state, but it is not within the province of this court to correct any mere error in the rendition of such foreign judgment. In the absence of fraud, we are confined to the questions of jurisdiction.
By the. Gourt.— The judgment of the superior court of Milwaukee county is reversed, and. the cause is remanded with directions to enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the amount of the New York judgment, with the legal interest thereon and the costs of this action.