Snow v. Boston Blank Book Manufacturing Co.

153 Mass. 456 | Mass. | 1891

C. Allen, J.

There is no doubt under our practice that, if a bill in equity discloses loches on its face, the defence may be taken by demurrer. But if the facts upon which this defence rests do not sufficiently appear on the face of the bill, then they may be set up in the answer. It has, indeed, been said elsewhere, that loches is a defence that the court will take notice of, even though not pleaded at all. Sullivan v. Portland & Kennebec Railroad, 94 U. S. 806, 811. In our practice, if a bill is demurred to on the ground of loches, and the demurrer is overruled, the defence may still be made in the answer, provided there are any new facts to support it. And the waiver or withdrawal of a demurrer which assigns loches as one' ground is no waiver of the defence of loches, but it merely amounts to saying that the defendant will present his defence of loches upon all the facts of the case, instead of presenting it simply upon the facts set forth in the bill.

The case was heard before a single justice of the Superior Court, who ordered that the plaintiffs’ bill be dismissed. The plaintiffs thereupon, on the same day, entered an appeal from the decree, and requested the presiding justice to report the facts found by him in the cause. Pursuant to this request, a report was made, stating in respect to loches that the court found as a fact upon the evidence that there was loches as to all the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs thereupon, upon the same day, filed a bill of exceptions, which was allowed by the justice, setting forth that the plaintiffs excepted to the treatment of the question of loches as a question of fact, and to the failure to find and report the subsidiary facts upon which the finding of loches was based. There had been, apparently, no previous request to make a detailed report of these subsidiary facts, and it is possible that it .was considered premature to make such request before the announcement of the decision upon the general question of loches; and the presiding justice may not have understood the request, as made, to call for such a detailed report. The St. of 1883, c. 223, § 7, provides that, “ in cases of appeal from a decree in equity of the Superior Court, the justice by whom the decree was made shall, at the request of the appellant, report the facts found by him as far as material, provided that such request be made within four days after the appellant has been notified of the entry of the decree.”

The tendering of the bill of exceptions on the same day of the entry of the decree goes to show that the plaintiffs then wished to have a report made of the subsidiary facts upon which the finding of loches was based; and though they did not make a formal request to that effect, which really would have been the more proper method for them to pursue, yet we think they should not lose their rights on this account, and that the tender of their bill of exceptions, coupled with their previous request for a report of the facts, sufficiently presents the question whether on an appeal the plaintiffs were entitled to have these facts reported, so that there may be a revision of the finding of the general fact of loches.

We think the plaintiffs had this right. The finding of loches is not the finding of a simple fact, but it is an inference from other facts, which may include many different elements. The defendants themselves, upon their brief, describe it as a mixed question of law and fact. There is no fixed rule as to what shall constitute loches, but it depends on the particular circumstances of. each case. Morse v. Hill, 136 Mass. 60, 65. Twin-Lick Oil Co. v. Marbury, 91 U. S. 587, 591. Erlanger v. New Sombrero Phosphate Co. 3 App. Cas. 1218, 1259, 1279. A party aggrieved by a final decree made by a single justice of this court, or of the Superior Court, has a right of appeal. Pub Sts. c. 151, § 13. St. 1883, c. 223, § 2. In order that this right may be effectual, in cases where the evidence is not reported in full, it is necessary that in some form there shall be a report of the facts.

The statute above cited, conferring equity jurisdiction upon the Superior Court, has enacted for that court the same rule of practice in such cases which has prevailed in this court. St. 1883, c. 223, § 7. Wright v. Wright, 13 Allen, 207. Slack v. Slack, 123 Mass. 443. McFeely v. Scott, 128 Mass. 16. Harris v. Mackintosh, 133 Mass. 228, 231. Where a bill is dismissed on the ground of loches, the plaintiff can get no benefit from his appeal if the facts are not stated upon which the finding of loches rests. The question is whether the delay has been unreasonable under all the circumstances of the case. Those circumstances may, on the one hand, tend to excuse delay, or, on the other hand, go to show that prompt action was imperative. In order that the plaintiffs may have an effectual right of appeal, and thus be able to have a reconsideration and revision of the case, we think those circumstances should be stated in the report when the appealing party seasonably asks to have this done.

The exceptions, therefore, must be sustained, and the case sent back, not for a new trial, but in order that there may be inserted in the report a statement of the facts and circumstances upon which the finding of loches rested.

Exceptions sustained.