266 Mich. 534 | Mich. | 1934
Concurrence Opinion
(concurring). This case is here for review, under Acts Nos. 212 and 312, Pub. Acts 1931, which provide for review of the orders of the Michigan pubilc utilities commission both as to law and
In Re Consolidated Freight Co., 265 Mich. 340, it was held this court could exercise appellate jurisdiction only, in chancery appeals; that the Michigan public utilities commission was not a court and hence an appeal directly to this court would not lie.
“An appeal is a process of civil law origin and removes a cause entirely, subjecting the facts as well as the law to a review and retrial, but a writ of error is a process of common-law origin and removes nothing for re-examination but the law.” Wiscart v. D’Auchy, 3 Dall. (3 U. S.) 321.
Appeals are inquisitorial, of civil-law origin, not fixed by the Constitution, existing only by statute, and may be modified, amended or abolished, in the discretion of the legislature. They operate on persons, remove questions of fact to the appellate court where there is a trial de novo of the entire ease begun below which is continued for retrial in the Supreme Court.
It was held this court could exercise original jurisdiction over the Michigan public utilities commission by certiorari in accordance with Rapid R. Co. v. Michigan Public Utilities Com’n, 225 Mich. 426.
On certiorari this court may not review questions of fact. It is not at liberty to determine disputed facts nor to review the weight of the evidence. Carroll v. City Commission of City of Grand Rapids, ante, 123.
“The office of a certiorari is not however to review questions of fact, but questions of law. And in examining into the evidence the appellate court does so not to determine whether the probabilities preponderate one way or the other but simply to deter*537 mine whether the evidence is such that it will justify the finding as a legitimate inference from the facts proved, whether that inference would or would not have been drawn by the appellate tribunal.” Jackson v. People, 9 Mich. 111 (77 Am. Dec. 491).
“The sole question presented by the writ is, Was the action valid? The only order that could be entered was one of affirmation or reversal, quashing the proceedings.” Dubois v. Riley Township Board, 126 Mich. 587.
‘ ‘ ‘ On certiorari questions of law only are reviewable, and it is the general rule that, when an order or judgment is reversed in certiorari proceedings, the whole case falls. It is an end to the case. ’ Van Dyke v. Doughty, 174 Mich. 351.” Carroll v. City Commission of City of Grand Rapids, supra.
If there are disputed questions of fact to be determined, as there usually are, in a review of a final order of the Michigan public utilities commission, in cases such as this, review must be had in the manner pointed out by statute (2 Comp. Laws 1929, §§ 11014, 11042), by a bill in chancery filed in the circuit court for the county of Ingham, where additional testimony may be introduced and a decree entered, from which decree an appeal lies to this court. Certiorari from this court is a writ granted in the exercise of original jurisdiction and lies to review questions of law only. In re Consolidated Freight Co., supra. Appeals may be taken from the orders of the commission only in pursuance of the constitutional statutes providing therefor.
Lead Opinion
Appellant took general appeal, without leave, under Acts Nos. 212 and 312, Pub. Acts 1931, from orders of the Michigan public utilities commission, granting permit of public convenience and necessity to appellee, Cloverleaf Motor Truck Transportation Company, to operate common carrier freight service between Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
The only remedy for review by this court, directly from the order of the commission, being by certiorari, leave to appeal was necessary. In re Consolidated Freight Co., 265 Mich. 340; Court Rule No. 60, (1931 and 1933). The appeal must be dismissed and the appellant left to other review provided by statute. While immaterial, it may be said that the record discloses some evidence supporting the order.
The appellees not having filed a brief, the appeal is dismissed, without costs.