Tourville v. Nemadji Boom Co.

Oktoh, J. This is an appeal without a single exception in the record. The case is brought here and presented on its merits on the sole ground that the verdict is contrary to the evidence, a motion to set aside the verdict and for a new trial having been overruled without exception. It ife urged by the learned counsel of the respondent that , the appellant, not having excepted to the order overruling [82] the motion for a new trial, and not appealing therefrom, admits that the decision of the circuit court thereon was correct. This would be so if it were not for sec. 3070, R. S., which allows this court “ to review any intermediate order or determination of the court below which involves the merits and necéssarily affects the judgment, appearing upon the record transmitted or returned from the circuit court, whether the same were excepted to or not.” In a case, therefore, where there was no evidence to support the verdict, or a clear preponderance of evidence against the verdict, it might be the duty of this court to reverse the judgment and award a new trial if no exception was taken to the order denying a motion for a new trial in the court below. But in this case it was admitted by the learned counsel of the appellant upon the argument that there was evidence both ways upon all the material facts upon which the verdict was founded, and it appears that upon the evidence on behalf of the plaintiff alone he would be entitled to the verdict rendered, and that the testimony upon material questions is in conflict. In such case the verdict of the jury ought not to be disturbed. Meusel v. Semple, 48 Wis. 86. In this case the matters in dispute are complicated, and the evidence contradictory, and this court could not hope to arrive at a more correct conclusion upon the merits than the jury that rendered the verdict or the learned circuit court that refused to set it aside and grant a new trial. We shall be compelled, therefore, to affirm the judgment by force of the invariable rule governing such cases. The learned counsel of the respondent asks this court, in view of the groundlessness or frivolousness of the appeal, to adjudge to the respondent damages for his delay, by virtue of sec. 2951, R. S., not exceeding ten per cent, on the amount of the judgment. This is a matter left to the discretion of this court, and we think we ought not to exercise such a discretion except in a case where the appeal is not [83] only groundless but taken -with, the evident purpose oí mere delay or in bad faith. This appeal was taken tbe 7th day of June of the present year, and there has been no unnecessary delay in this court of this cause, as this court will endeavor there shall not be in any cause. The delay by this appeal, therefore, scarcely demerits the assessment of damages under this statute, and as we cannot think that this appeal was taken for the mere purpose of delay, and as the respondent has not suffered much from delay, we shall decline to adjudge any such damages in this case. By the Oourt.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.