47 Fla. 348 | Fla. | 1904
— On April 11, 1901, appellee filed her bill in the Circuit Court of Dade county against appellant praying for divorce, alimony and suit money, including counsel fees. The court appointed a special master to take testimony as to defendant’s ability to pay alimony and suit money, who recommended an allowance for temporary alimony and the sum of $125 attorney’s fee for complainant’s solicitor. Thereafter defendant filed his demurrer to the bill and exceptions to the Master’s report, but before either was heard the complainant in person filed with the clerk a praecipe to dismiss the cause. On June 29th, 1901, the judge of the court at chambers entered an order unconditionally dismissing the cause upon complainant’s praecipe. At the next term of the court in December, 1901, complainant’s counsel filed a motion to reinstate the cause alleging as grounds therefor that the dismissal was had upon complainant’s request without the knowledge and consent and against the consent of her counsel, and that the master’s report ought to have been confirmed and complainant made to settle with counsel before the cause was dismissed. On February 10th, 1902, the court in vacation granted the motion and reinstated the cause. Thereafter defendant filed his answer to the bill and complainant’s
The only assignment of error necessary to be considered is that which questions the order reinstating the case. This order was made after the adjournment of a subsequent term upon motion, and not upon a rehearing or bill of review. The motion was made by counsel for his own benefit, and not to obtain any relief for the complainant. The assignment of error is well taken. When the court entered the order unconditionally dismissing the cause it lost jurisdiction over the cause and the parties, and it could not re-assume jurisdiction at or after the adjournment of a subsequent term by mere motion. The order of dismissal was made at chambers under authority granted by section 1407, Rev. Stats., which provides that “The Circuit Courts sitting in chancery shall always be open for the issuing and return of process, making, hearing and deciding motions, presenting, arguing and deciding upon petitions, granting injunctions and passing interlocutory and final decrees and orders. And all action in said matters in vacation shall have the same force and effect as if done in term time.” If the order dismissing the cause had been made in term time, it could not have been set aside at a subsequent term upon motion (Myrick v. Merritt, 21 Fla. 799; Forcheimer v. Tarble, 23 Fla. 99, 1 South. Rep. 695), and under the
The order reinstating the cause and all subsequent orders and decrees are reversfed. The appellant will be taxed with the costs of this appeal.
Maxwell and Cockrell, JJ., concur.
Taylor, C. J., and Hocker and Shackleford, JJ., concur in the opinion.