Peagler v. Davis

Lumpkin, J. (After stating the foregoing facts.) In the consent order, with its recitals, the idea was involved that the hearing should be continued with a brief of evidence in a condition authorizing a continuance of the whole matter. On the day when the order was taken the brief of evidence could have been formally tendered to the judge for his approval. Presumably the recitals in the consent order were intended to have some effect. After the bearing had been carried over, under such circumstances, from the day first set therefor, to allow a motion to dismiss the motion for a new trial to prevail, on the ground that the brief of evidence had not been formally tendered to the judge on the day when the order was taken, would apparently have the effect of permitting counsel for the movant to be lulled into a sense of security, and then dismissing the motion because of their non-action. The presiding judge filed an opinion in connection with sustaining the motion to dismiss the motion for a new trial,, from which we think it is evident that he did not dismiss it as a matter of discretion because of any laches on the part of the movant’s counsel, which rendered it impracticable or more difficult for him to approve the brief of evidence on the second day fixed for the hearing. Eather, as we infer from his opinion, he entertained the view that, as matter of law, it was his duty then to dismiss it. In this view we can not concur. Eelatively to the court there should not be a wilful or negligent failure to comply with his order. A mere continuance of the hearing, without more, does not ipso facto operate to allow, as matter of right, more time to tender the brief for approval, or prevent the presiding judge from exercising his discretionary power in dismissing the motion. The judge is not required to approve a brief of the evidence where such a length of time has elapsed that he is unable to call to mind what transpired at the trial. Several cases may be found where the judge exercised his discretion in dismissing a motion for a new trial when the movant did not comply with the order of the court in regard to the tender of the brief of evidence for approval, or where by reason of lapse of time it had become difficult, if not impracticable, for the presiding judge to [319] approve the brief of evidence when finally tendered. While in some of the decisions the fact that the judgment dismissing the motion for a new trial was based upon the discretion of the presiding judge does not distinctly appear, yet a careful examination of the various cases will show a line of demarkation between those in which the presiding judge in fact exercised his discretionary power in dismissing the motion for a new trial because of a failure to present a brief of the evidence or a delay in so doing, and those in which the ruling was based upon the asserted legal right of the respondent to insist on such a dismissal. As illustrating the two classes of cases see Milner v. Burrus, 85 Ga. 642 (11 S. E. 1029); Central Railroad & Banking Co. v. Pool, 95 Ga. 410 (22 S. E. 631); Whitton v. Reid, 109 Ga. 174 (34 S. E. 309); Mayor & Council of Brunswick v. Davenport, 131 Ga. 465 (62 S. E. 584). The respondent may waive any right on his part to insist on strict compliance with the order as to the time for presenting the brief of evidence for approval, or may by his conduct estop himself from urging such contention. Moxley v. Kinloch, 80 Ga. 46 (7 S. E. 123); Central Railroad & Banking Co. v. Keller, 94 Ga. 721 (21 S. E. 580). We think that the consent order taken in this case on the day which had been fixed for the presentation of the brief of evidence for approval, and for the hearing of the motion, containing the recitals above mentioned, should be held to have that effect so far as the respondent and his counsel are concerned. The court cited two cases in support of his judgment dismissing the motion for a new trial: Dublin Hame Works v. Ross-Mehan Foundry Co., 128 Ga. 399 (57 S. E. 683), and Milltown Lumber Co. v. Lastinger, 137 Ga. 104 (72 S. E. 892). In neither of those cases was there a consent order containing recitals similar to those here involved. In the former the time was fixed by order within which a brief of evidence should be made out and tendered for approval; and this was not done. It does not appear that ther(e was any effort to prepare and tender a brief of the evidence; but apparently there was simply a bald failure to comply with the order of the court. In the latter case a motion for a new trial had been set for a hearing on a certain date in vacation. On that date counsel entered into a written consent to continue it to another date; and the judge passed an order setting the hearing for the agreed date, and allowing the movant until such date to make out [320] and. file a brief of the evidence. This was not done. On the second date so fixed the judge, by agreement, passed an order declaring that the “motion for a new trial stands continued until” another named date in vacation. It does not appear that the last order continuing the hearing alone made any reference to the brief of evidence or recognized it as in existence and as having been filed, or that anything had been done in regard to it, as required by the former order. On the day to .which the hearing was continued the motion was dismissed because there had been no compliance with the order of the court as to the presentation of the brief of evidence for approval. It will be seen that the order in that ease was quite different from the one now under consideration. It was there admitted that a brief of evidence had been agreed upon by counsel on Sunday, sixteen days after the time when the order had required that it should be tendered to the judge for approval, and that the agreement bore a fictitious date, antedating that fixed by the order, and there was an entry of filing dated as of the date when the brief of evidence should have been tendered for approval. Under these facts the presiding judge dismissed the motion for a new trial, and this court held that the judgment would not be reversed. The difference between the two cases is plain. Judgment reversed. All the Justices concur.