King v. Hutchins

| Superior Court of New Hampshire | Dec 15, 1852

Bell, J.

The questions of practice, raised by this case, are of interest both to the court and to the profession. The only provision of the law bearing upon them is the 5th section of chapter 189 of the Revised Statutes. “ If either party is dissatisfied with the report, the case may be tried by jury, and such report shall be given in evidence to the jury, subject to be impeached by evidence offered by either party.” It is very clear that the right thus given to each of the parties, may be waived by either, , by express agreement, or by taking other steps in the cause inconsistent with that right.

In many cases, questions of law arise before auditors, upon which the parties may wish to have the opinion of the court. And it is usual and proper for the auditor, at the request of the parties, or one of them, to state the facts necessary to raise those questions, either in the body of their report or a supplement to it; and to state their conclusions as to the facts differently, according to the view which the court may take of those questions.

The*que'stions thus raised may be of various degrees of importance, going either to the substantial merits of the case, upon facts not controverted, or to the merits upon facts which are themselves disputed; or they may affect the order of the trial only, as the admission of evidence or the like.

It is not unusual for one or both the parties to desire that such questions may be considered and decided by the presiding judge at nisi prius ; while each party intends to reserve a right to ask a transfer of the case to the superior court for decision, if the opinion of the court should be unfavorable to him, or to claim the right of trial by jury. Considering the pressure of the other ordinary duties of a presiding judge at a nisi prius term, the want of time and means to investigate a doubtful question, and having regard to the despatch of business and the. convenience of suitors generally and of the judge, we think it must be regarded as a judicious exercise of the discretion of the judge to decline to examine or to decide any questions of law, raised by the report of an auditor, unless the parties distinctly waive the right of a trial by the jury, and of a transfer to the superior court. It is no part of the duty of a court to decide in anticipation, for the information or guidance of counsel, upon questions of law which may or inay not arise upon a trial by the jury.

If the questions raised are such as relate to the competency of witnesses, or the admission of testimony, or the course of the trial, it can rarely be important to the parties, or conduce to the despatch of business, to transfer such questions before a trial, if the case is designed to be put to the jury. In most cases, it will be found that upon a trial these questions will be avoided, or will arise in a modified form. And if the party cannot avoid them, they will be ruled upon by the presiding judge as they arise, like other similar questions, and, if necessary, will be transferred, with others arising in the case, to the superior court, thus saving to the parties the necessity of a second transfer.

If the questions raised affect the titles of the parties or the merits of the case, and the facts upon which those questions arise are not controverted, it would seem to be judicious to transfer the case only upon the agreement of the parties that the decision should be final.

The report, with such an agreement, would stand in the position of aiiy other case agreed, and, if necessary to prevent substantial injustice, might be discharged upon a proper application and cause shown, and the case sent to the jury.

Where the facts upon which the .questions o'f law arise are the subjects of controversy, and the questions involve the merits of the case, it may depend much upon the nature of the case whether the legal questions or the matter of fact should be first considered, and the presiding judge may properly exercise his discretion in regard to the course to be pursued. It is calculated, we think, to save much trouble, both to the judges upon the circuit and to the superior court, to have it decided, beforé the case is transferred, what is to be the effect of a decision ; that is, whether judgment is to be rendered upon the order of the superior court, or the case is to be sent back for a trial of the issues of fact.

It is not understood that any rules can be laid down upon this subject which will limit the discretion of the presiding judge; but if these rules are adopted, it will tend to produce a desirable uniformity in the practice of the courts of com-, mon pleas. As in the case before us, it does not appear that there has been any agreement by which thei defendant has waived his legal right, we think the case must be sent to the jury.