Madigan v. Harrington

MR. JHSTIOE PIGOTT delivered the opinion of the court. On the 8th day of April, 1899, there was entered in the dis [359] trict court of Silver Bow county a judgment declaring that a paper purporting to be the last will and testament of James hi. Beilly, deceased, was his last will and testament, and that the will was duly executed, published and witnessed as required by law, and denying the petition of Mary Madigan to revoke the probate thereof. A motion for a new trial was denied. On the 5th day of January, 1900, Madigan filed and served her notice of appeal to the supreme court from the judgment and the order refusing a new trial. JL. The respondents move that the attempted appeal from the judgment be dismissed, for the reason that it Avas not taken Avithin sixty days after the entry of the judgment. Sections 1722 and 1723 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as amended by House Bill No. 124 (LaAvs of 1899, page 146), provide that an appeal may be taken from a judgment or order against or in favor of the validity of a Avill, Avithin sixty days after it is made or entered, or filed Avith the clerk. The judgment in this case Avas in favor of the validity of a will, and was entered on April 8, 1899. The supposed appeal Avas taken on January 5, 1900, more than sixty days therafter; hence the appeal from the judgment must be dismissed. 2. The respondents move to affirm the order refusing a neAV trial, or (in the alternative) to dismiss the appeal therefrom, upon the ground that the notice of intention to move for a new trial is not contained in any statement on motion for a new trial or bill of exceptions. We are of the opinion that the motion to affirm should be granted. As Ave have repeatedly declared, such notice is not part of the judgment roll, nor one of the papers required by Sections 1176 and 1738 of the Code of Civil Procedure to be sent up by copy. The statement or bill of exceptions on motion for new trial should embrace the notice of intentiou to' move for a neAV trial, Avhich is the initial step toAvards securing a re-examination of an issue of fact. The giving of such notice may, of course, be waived, and the omission from the bill of exceptions or statement on motion for a neAV trial of such a notice, when one has been given, may also [360] be waived. (Harrigan v. Lynch, 21 Mont. 36, 52 Pac. 642.) But there is nothing in this case to show a waiver. The very question here raised was decided in Grinnell v. Davis, 20 Montana Reports, 222, 50 Pacific Reporter, 556. We are aware of the contrary rule which prevails in California, and which is announced in Pico v. Cohn, 78 California Reports, 384, 20 Pacific Reporter, 706, and in Kahn v. Wilson, 120 California Reports, 643, 53 Pacific Reporter, 24. We prefer to- follow Grinnell v. Davis, for the reason that the practice should be, settled, and for the further reason that we are inclined to believe the Grmnell Ca¿e is correct on principle. Counsel for the appellant does not make any pertinent objection to, or argument, or suggestion against the granting of, the motion. Indeed, he frankly admits that unless the notice of intention is properly before us, the cause cannot be heard or determined on its merits. Under these circumstances it should seem manifest that the order appealed from ought to be affirmed. Dismissal of the appeal is not the technically accurate remedy, for the transcript contains the copies of the paper's required by Sections 1176 and 1738 of the Code of Civil Procedure to be furnished on appeal. The requisite papers have been furnished by copy; the defect or omission is in an original paper, namely, the statement on motion for a new trial, The appe;al from the judgment is dismissed, and the order denying the motion for a new trial is affirmed. Affirmed.