Raymond v. Keseberg

98 Wis. 317 | Wis. | 1898

WiNslow, J.

It is a matter of sincere congratulation to all parties that the end of this protracted litigation has at last been reached. Careful examination of the record fails to disclose any reversible error. The points made by the appellants will be briefly noticed.

1. A motion was made in the circuit court, based upon sec. 3072a, S. & B. Ann. Stats., in November, 1896, to dismiss the action because the plaintiff had not brought the case to trial, and paid the costs upon the last reversal of the action (which took place October 22, 1895), within a year after such reversal. It appeared by the affidavits submitted upon the hearing of the motion that the defendants paid the fees of the clerk of this court, and that the record was remitted to the circuit court in December, 1895, and that active negotiations were soon commenced by the parties for settlement of the cause, and that by reason thereof the case was not put upon the spring calendar, 1896, and that such negotiations actively continued until the summer of 1896, when it was too late to put the cause upon the calendar of ■any term within the prescribed year, as there was no jury term to be held until November. Upon this showing the -motion was denied, and the action was brought to trial in ■January, 1897, the plaintiff paying the costs-upon reversal, and the defendants accepting the same on the 4th of January, 1897, before the jury was called. We think that under the rule stated by this court in Whereatt v. Ellis, 85 Wis. 340, the defendants waived the benefit of the provisions of sec. 3072a. If there were any doubt about this conclusion, it was certainly removed by the acceptance and retention of the costs before the trial began.

2. The defendants assign error because the court refused to submit certain proposed questions as a part of the special verdict. These questions were, in effect: (1) Whether there was a suitable lantern placed on the mound of earth; (2) whether the light from the street lamps was sufficient to make a lantern unnecessary; and (3) 'whether the plaintiff was so intoxicated as not to be able to exercise ordinary care. These questions were perhaps proper in themselves, but it will be readily seen that they were all covered, though in different form, by the questions of the verdict as actually submitted. So long as the material questions in the case are fully covered by the questions actually submitted, and such last-named questions are not objectionable, the statute is satisfied. The form of the questions is to be determined by the trial court, and, so long as they conform to the requirements of the statute and cover the material issues, there can be no error. We regard the verdict as sufficient in form.

3. It is contended that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the findings of the verdict. 'We have examined the bill of exceptions, and find it sufficient. It is unnecessary to state it at length.

The defendants are here with two appeals, one from the order denying the motion to dismiss under sec. 3072a, and another from the judgment in the action. The first appeal must be dismissed, because the order was not an appealable order under ch. 212, Laws of 1895. "While it may be said to be an order “affecting a substantial right,” it did not “determine the action” or “prevent judgment.” It was, however, an intermediate order, reviewable upon appeal from the judgment, under sec. 3070, E. S. 1878, and for that reason we have considered the question in this opinion.

By the Court.— The appeal from the order denying the motion to dismiss is dismissed, with costs, and upon the other appeal the judgment is affirmed.