69 P. 268 | Or. | 1902
This is a motion to dismiss an appeal. On December 22, 1897, the plaintiff issued its insurance policy to one E. J. Frasier, covering $2,190, on certain personal property belonging to him. A portion of the property was afterward consumed by fire, and, the company denying liability, Frasier brought an action against it, in which he recovered a judgment for $1,700 on November 1, 1898. On appeal to this court the judgment was affirmed April 29, 1901: Frasier v. New Zealand Ins. Co., 39 Or. 342 (64 Pac. 814). After'the commencement of the action, but prior to the rendition of the judgment therein,
Plaintiff now moves to dismiss the appeal, and, in our opinion, the motion should be sustained, because the decree is not severable, in the sense that Smith can appeal alone from that part discharging the plaintiff from liability, leaving its other provisions undisturbed. In a suit of this kind, the decree, as to the plaintiff, must either be that the defendants interplead and the plaintiff be discharged from further liability, or that the bill of interpleader be dismissed: Pope v. Ames, 20 Or. 199 (25 Pac. 393); North Pac. Lum. Co. v. Lang, 28 Or. 246 (42 Pac. 799, 52 Am. St. Rep. 780). The fund cannot be distributed, and the plaintiff remain liable on the claims interpleaded. If the suit is dismissed, plaintiff is entitled to a return of the money paid into court, and such a decree cannot be made in this case, because no appeal has been taken from that part of the decree distributing the fund. It has been disbursed and paid out to Smith and others in accordance with the directions of the court below, and is not now in the custody of the court, or subject to its orders. If Smith desired to try the question on appeal as to whether the case was a proper one for interpleader, he should have appealed from the entire decree.- He cannot appeal from a part only, and leave undisturbed and in force that portion favorable to himself and the other defendants. Where a decree is of such a character that a part may stand, although another portion is reversed, it is allowable in some instances for an appeal to be taken from a part only; but when it is not severable the appeal must be taken from the whole decree: Portland Const. Co. v.
Appeal Dismissed.