Hodowal v. Yearous

103 Iowa 32 | Iowa | 1897

Granger, J.

1 I. It is insisted that the causes should not have been consolidated. It seems clear to us they should not have been, if for no other reason, because the statute does not provide for the eonsolidation of such causes. Code 1873, section 2734, is as follows: “Whenever two or more actions are pending in the same court Which might have been joined, the defendant may, on motion and notice to the adverse party, require him to show cause why the same shall not be consolidated, and if m> sufficient cause be shown the same shall be consolidated.” These two actions were, at the date of consolidation, pending in the same court, but they could not have been joined. One is a law action, and the other an equitable one. They are to be prosecuted by different proceedings. Code 1873, section 2630, tells what actions may be *34joined, as follows: “Causes of action' of whatever kind, where each may be prosecuted by the same kind of proceedings, provided that they be by the same party, and against the same party in-the same rights, and if suit on all may be brought and tried in that county, may be joined in the same petition.” These actions are not to be prosecuted by the same kind of proceedings, are not by the same parties against the same parties, nor do they involve the same rights. The conditions do not meet the requirements of the law for the consolidation of actions.

2 II. It may also be said that the showing to open up the judgment is insufficient. We have examin. d th e transcript to know the record. The rule to govern such proceedings is as follows: “In appeals from ju-stiee’s courts or other inferior tribunals in civil causes, the appellant shall cause the case to be docketed by noon of the second day of the term to which the same is returnable, and, in case of his failure so to do, the appellee may procure the case to be docketed, and will thereupon be entitled to have the judgment below affirmed. * ‘ * But the judgment, if affirmed, may be opened at any time prior to noon of the following day of the term, by appellants making a satisfactory showing of merits and excuse for his default.” The affidavit, when stripped of much that is immaterial, devoted to the question of -the two actions involving the same questions as to title, etc., is no showing whatever of excuse for default. It is an affirmative showing of a neglect, after taking the appeal, to bring a transcript to the ’district court, and have the case docketed. Another affidavit by plaintiff: in that case shows that the matter was left with his attorney, who, for some unknown reason, did not attend to the matter. ,We think the court erred- in opening up the judgment, after being affirmed under the rule. The judgment as to both cases is reversed.