Russell v. Clark

60 Wis. 284 | Wis. | 1884

OetoN, J.

This was an arbitration under the statute, and the submission embraced “all manner of actions, suits, controversies, claims, and demands whatsoever now pending or existing, or held by or between the parties,” without any exceptions whatever. The award of the arbitrators was filed in the clerk’s office of the court designated in such submission, July 10, 1882. The plaintiff served notice of a motion to vacate and set aside the award at the next term of the court thereafter to be held. This motion was renewed, or a like notice of motion was served, and such motion and the award were sent by stipulation from court to court to be there heard, until finally it was heard and decided at a term of the court, in the county of'Waukesha, for the circuit court of the county of Dodge, on the 31st day of May, 1883, and an order Avas made setting aside and vacating said aAvard. One ground stated in the motion for setting aside and A'acating the same Avas “ that said arbitrators determined and found Avho was entitled to the fee of real estate described in said award.” The objections urged against the motion are (1) that the motion Avas made out of time, and long after the next term of the court designated in the submission “after the publication of such award,” as required by sec. 3554, B. 8.; (2) that the arbitrators did not exceed their poAvers “respecting the claim of any person to any estate in fee or for life to real estate ” in making their award.

1. The submission was not filed Avith the aAvard, and Avas neAer filed until the 23d day of May, 1883, a feAv days before the decision of the motion and the' granting of the order vacating the award. It is too clear for argument that “ the publication of the award ” contemplated by the statute is the filing of the submission and award in the clerk’s office of the court designated in the submission, for the action of the court thereon, by setting aside and vacating it, on motion, or by confirming it and rendering judgment thereon, as the case may be.. Until they are both so filed and before the court there is no such publication as Avould enable the court to act thereon for any purpose. How could the court know Avhether the award Avas "authorized by the submission, or is Avithin the terms of the submission? There can be no doubt but that there is no such publication as the statute requires until both the submission and award are so filed and before the court. The award is not intelligible without the submission. The submission was filed for the first time a few clays before the motion was made and heard and the order entered. The motion was therefore in time.

2. The statute (seo. 3545, R. S.) prohibits the submission of anything respecting the claim of any person to any estate “in fee or for life to real estate.” The fourth cause for vacating an award, mentioned in sec. 3552, R. S., is “ that the arbitrators exceeded their powers.” This second clause of the award is that “ IF. IF Ciarle, is entitled to'hold the deed of the Murphy property to secure the unpaid portion of the Baldwin loan, and the said H. II Bussell has six months from this date to pay the same.” This is very indefinite, as are, indeed, all other parts of the award; but if it means anything, it is that a deed in fee absolute for land shall have effect only as a mortgage to secure a loan. This is an adjudication of a “claim to real estate in fee” which it is onl3T proper and within the jurisdiction of a court of chancery or of law to make, and clearly excepted from a submission to arbitrators, and is made by' the statute ground for vacating the award by reason of their exceeding their powers.

By the Court.— The order of the circuit court is affirmed.