21 Or. 502 | Or. | 1892
Counsel for the motion relies upon section 547, Hill’s Code, which provides: . “Whenever a judgment or decree is affirmed on appeal, and the same be for recovery of money or personal property, or the value thereof, the judgment or decree shall be given for ten per centum on the amount thereof for damages for the delay,
Rule 7, under which this application is made, is silent as to damages. The practice under it, however, has been to allow damages on affirmance, if it appeared that the appeal was not taken in good faith with the intent to prosecute it, or if it appeared that the same was taken for the purpose of delay; but a clear case is required, for the reason that generally the legal rate of interest on money is the measure of damages for its detention, and a party ought not to be mulcted in double damages unless he be seriously at fault.
But how are the requisite facts to be made to appear? Not by the transcript, because it is not here. The court cannot presume or intend bad faith in the appellant. In this case, the parties have filed affidavits on both sides, which we have examined, from which it sufficiently appears that the appellant sought to secure further time only by taking this appeal. The appeal is not allowed for that purpose, and under the circumstances the respondent ought to be allowed damages on affirmance.
The rule quoted does not provide for damages nor the amount; and while it has been the practice so far as any member of the court can remember, to allow ten per cent in such case, still the power to allow that amount implies the power to allow any less sum. Under the particular facts of this case, we think five per cent reasonable, and direct the decree to be affirmed with five per cent damages.