Webster v. Stephens

Bosworth, J. To render an appeal effectual for any purpose, the appellant must execute an undertaking, (Code, § 334) to pay costs; and, to effect a stay, it must provide for paying the judgment, (§ 335). The undertaking is of no effect unless a copy of it and of the affidavits of the sureties be served, (§§ 340-341.) It must be filed with the clerk with whom the judgment is entered, (§ 343). The Code does not in terms say it must be filed before the undertaking can be of any effect. It is quite clear that until it is filed the respondent has no-security that one exists which can be made available to him. It may be destroyed, and he be unable to prove that it ever existed. I think it a fair construction to hold, that to make a complete and perfect delivery of it to the use of the respondent, it should be filed. Prior to the Code, a plaintiff in error was required to file the bond at the time of serving the writ on the clerk, (2 Rev. Stats., 597, § 32). In the Court of Chancery the appellant was required to file his bond and notice of appeal within the time allowed to appeal. (1 Barb. Ch. Pr., 401 & 409). Under the Code, no approval of the bond, not even an ex jocvrte one, is required, unless exception is taken to the sureties. There is no hardship in requiring an appellant to file hie undertaking with his notice of appeal. The defendant cannot be certain that there is an undertaking to which he can resort, until it is filed. I think his exception was taken in time. But an order may be entered, extending the time to justify, ten. days.