Detling v. Weber

Dixon, C. J. The only question in this case is, whether, on an appeal to the circuit court from the judgment of a justice of the peace rendered for a sum less than fifteen dollars, and where no new trial is sought or can be had in the circuit court, that court can reverse the judgment for costs in part and affirm [561] it as to the residue, au excess in the justice’s taxation oi costs being the only error complained of. The circuit court did so in this case; and from such judgment the defendant, who was the appellant below, appeals to this court. I think,.under the practice as well settled by the decisions of this court, that this was error on the part of that court, and that it could only reverse the judgment of the justice entirely as to the costs, and affirm it as to the damages, against which no complaint was made. That the language of the statute under which the appellate court proceeds (R S., ch. 120, sec. 218 ; 2 Tay. Stats., 1399, § 236) is very broad, and- the authority conferred upon the court apparently more extensive than this, must, I think, be freely admitted. Mr. Justice LyoN is of opinion that it gives the power which the court below exercised, and that the judgment appealed from was right If the question of construction were a new one, and if I did not consider myself bound by the judicial interpretation which the statute has already received, I must say the inclination of my mind would be to agree with him. It is not only a favorite rule of construction with me, but the settled rule everywhere now, I believe, that, where the language of a statute is plain, and the literal interpretation such as not to lead to that gross absurdity or injustice which clearly shows the legislature could not have intended it, the courts are bound to receive it according to its literal import, and apply and give effect to it according to the plain meaning of the words. Such a construction would uphold the judgment here, and I have sometimes been almost surprised that the courts of New York and the court of this state, put the construction upon it which it has received. It has, however, received a firm and settled construction of a different kind, and by that construction I feel myself absolutely bound, until the legislature shall have declared that another shall be given, or until, by new and emphatic words, it shall have changed the rule which now prevails. [562] Tke original statute (R. S. 1849, ch. 88, sqo. 228),* wkiek was borrowed from New York, and wkiek tkis court kold, and as I tkink witk entire correctness, in Carney v. Doyle, 14 Wis., 272, was quite as comprehensive, if not more so, tkan tke present, kad received an established judicial construction before it found its way into our statute books. Tke case in tkat state most in point upon tke question here presented, is Sheldon v. Quinlen, 5 Hill, 441, where it was held tkat upon certiorari, under a statute in precisely tke same words as our former one, tke court could affirm in part or reverse in part only by affirming as to damages and reversing it as to costs, or vice versa, because as to damages and costs tke judgment was for distinct things; but tkat there could be no further separation or partial affirmance and partial reversal. Tke court refused to assume, under tke statute and upon tke certiorari given by it, any greater powers in tkis respect tkan existed upon tke writ of certiorari to tke judgments of inferior courts at tke common law. Witk tkis construction tke statute was adopted in tkis state, and our court early held to tke same interpretation. Phillips v. Geesland 1 Chandler, 57; Dykens v, Munson, 2 Wis., 245. In tke latter case, as in tke former, it was decided tkat tke court was limited to an affirmance or reversal of tke judgment in whole or in part; and tke case of Sheldon v. Quinlen was referred to witk approbation by Chief Justice Whitoít in tke opinion. Witk tkis set563 tied construction of the former statute, the present was enacted in its place, which this court has held confers no greater powers ; and an appeal was given as a substitute for the certiorari, as has also been held by this court. Carney v. Doyle, supra, and Pfeil v. Harbolt, 11 Wis., 11. And this same construction has recently been sustained, notwithstanding a powerful appeal made against it and to this court to change it. Mock v. Erdmann, 28 Wis., 113. Under these circumstances, 1 conceive it to be my plain duty to adhere to it, notwithstanding any contrary views which I might otherwise entertain; and I must do so until the legislature shall have interposed in its discretion to change the rule, in case such change shall be thought advisable. The only decision of this court having any appearance of conflict with those above citéd, is in Cook v. Basset, 15 Wis., 596. It does not appear from the report that that was an appeal from the judgment of a justice under fifteen dollars, and I do not so understand the case. But if it was such appeal, it was a modification of the judgment for costs by order of this court, and the point here presented was passed sub sihntio. The question was not raised or considered, and the decision goes for nothing as an authority upon it. I think, therefore, that the judgment of the circuit court affirming the judgment of the justice in part as to costs and reversing it in part, must be reversed, and that the cause should be remanded to that court with directions to reverse the judgment of the justice in whole as to the costs, and to affirm it as to the damages. By the Court.— It is so ordered. Lyon, J., dissents.. Footnotes [*] The statute of 1849, above referred to, is as follows: “ The judge of the county court shall proceed and give judgment in the cause as the right of the matter may appear, without regarding technical omissions, imperfections or defects in the proceedings before the justice, which did not affect the merits, and may affirm or reverse the judgment inwhole or in part; and •may make any such final order, or judgment as he shall deem proper in furtherance of justice.” Sec. 218, ch. 120 R. S. 1838, says: “ Upon the hearing of the appeal the appellate court shall give judgment according •to the justice of the case, without regard to technical errors, or defects which do not affect the merits. In giving judgment the court may affirm or reverse the judgment of the court below, in whole or in part, as to any or .all of the parties, and for errors of law or fact.”