De Vall v. De Vall

Opinion by Mr. Chief Justice Eakin. 1. It thus appears that, although there was a motion to set aside the verdict, the court in its discretion set aside such motion on the ground of error not assigned in it, and the contention of defendant is that the court had no authority to set aside a verdict upon its own motion, nor upon a ground not assigned in the motion. There is no bill of exception here, and the defendant does not contend that the instruction mentioned in the order was not erroneous. Therefore the only question to be considered — 496 — is as to the power of the court to set aside a judgment and grant a new trial, either on its own motion, or upon a ground of error not assigned in the motion. Although there seems to be some conflict of opinion upon this question, the great weight of authority sustains the view that courts of general jurisdiction have inherent power to correct judicial errors for the purpose of promoting impartial administration of justice, and the right of a court to grant a new trial on its own motion is generally recognized. The Oklahoma Supreme Court, in Long v. County Commissioners, 5 Okl. 128 (47 Pac. 1063), has held directly to the contrary, citing no authority, other than its own statute, the language of which is not materially different from that of other states relating to the granting of new trials. Section 4493, Code of 1903, relating to motions for new trial, provides that “the former verdict * * shall be vacated and a new trial granted, on the application of the party aggrieved, for any of the following causes, affecting materially the substantial rights of such party,” and then names five causes which may be included in such motion, being identical with those in other states. The Supreme Court of Texas has held to the same effect in Lloyd v. Brinck et al., 35 Tex. 1. The North Dakota statute expressly authorizes the court on its own motion to vacate a verdict for certain causes which has the effect to preclude the consideration of any others. The statutes of California and South Dakota have similar provisions and therefore have no application upon this question. On the contrary, the Code of Iowa of 1897, § 3755, provides that “the former verdict * * shall be vacated and a new trial granted on the application of the party aggrieved,” etc., being the exact language of the Oklahoma statute. In Allen v. Wheeler, 54 Iowa, 631 (7 N. W. 113), in considering the power of the court to grant a new trial on its own -motion, it is said that this statute “does not provide that the court may not, upon its own motion, and — 497 — for error which is apparent, set aside a verdict. Such power exists at common law, and we do not understand that any provision of our statute is a limitation to the power of the court on its own motion to compel juries to observe and follow the law as embodied in the instructions given by the court.” And in a late case (Hensley v. Davidson Bros. Co., 135 Iowa, 106 [112 N. W. 227]), it is said that: “There is no provision in the Code relating to orders of this kind on the court’s own motion. That such right exists, however, is indisputable. It is one of the inherent powers of the court essential to the administration of justice.” And, after citing many cases to that effect, and quoting from some, the court say: “That a motion therefore, if pending, will not deprive the court of the power to order a new trial on grounds not raised therein. This must necessarily be so, for one of the controlling reasons for the existence of the power is to entitle the court to guard the rights of the parties who, for some cause, have proven unable to protect themselves, and another to enable the court to correct its error, rather than wait for this to be done by the appellate court.” To this case there is appended a note in 14 Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 65, reviewing the authorities, in which the author sáys that this power is generally recognized; that the provisions of the statute regulating motions for new trial do not prevent the court from granting a new trial on its own motion. The Minnesota Code of 1905, § 4198, is very similar to that of Iowa and Oklahoma, and in Bank of Willmar v. Lawler, 78 Minn. 136 (80 N. W. 868), it is said: “Appellant contends that, as our statute provides that the notice of motion for a new trial shall be in writing, and shall state the grounds of the motion, the court — 498 — below had no authority to grant a new trial on its own motion. Under the common-law practice, it was well settled that the trial court could grant a new trial on its own motion. * * Our Code of Civil Procedure does not expressly cut off this power of the court, and, in our opinion, does not do so by implication, although the Code may to some extent limit or modify that power. * * The provisions of such a statute, regulating motions for a new trial, do not prevent the court in a proper case from granting a new trial on its own motion.” In State ex rel. v. Adams, 84 Mo. 315, it is said: “If the court commits a palpable error in an instruction to the jury, or witnesses misconduct of members of the jury, which on motion would authorize it to set aside the verdict, shall it, on account of the ignorance or timidity of the aggrieved party, which prevents him from moving in the matter, render an unjust judgment on the verdict? If the jury find a verdict palpably against the law as declared by the court, is it powerless to maintain its own dignity and self respect, unless some one who feels aggrieved shall move in the matter ? That this power may be abused by the court is no argument against its existence. The appellate courts will find a way to correct any abuse of the power by the lower courts. It is conceded by the Court of Appeals, in the opinion delivered in this cause, that, at common law, this power could be exercised by the courts, independent of any application by a party for its exercise. * * And that our statute, prescribing the time within which a party may file a motion to set aside a verdict, does not confer upon the court any power which did not previously exist, or abridge the recognized power of the court, but simply regulated the privilege of the parties to the suit.” In Hewitt v. Steele, 118 Mo. 473 (24 S. W. 440), it is held that the court is not confined to the grounds assigned in the motion, but may consider any good cause, — 499 — and the appellate court, in reviewing the action of the trial court, will not be confined to the grounds stated in the order of the court, but may consider any ground set out in the motion. The Nebraska Code of 1891, § 4835, is in effect identical with that of Iowa, and in Weber v. Kirkendall, 44 Neb. 766, 769 (63 N. W. 35, 36), the court say: “We do not doubt the power of the trial court to re-examine its record, and to set aside a verdict on account of prejudicial error on its own motion, in the absence of a request by either party. * * The rule thus recognized has not only the sanction of authority, but rests upon the soundest and most satisfactory reasons. The power is inherent.” • Additional cases recognizing this power are Cleveland R. Co. v. Miller, 165 Ind. 387 (74 N. E. 509); Ft. Wayne R. Co. v. Donovan, 110 Mich. 173 (68 N. W. 115); Schmidt v. Brown, 80 Hun (N. Y.) 183; Eggen v. Fox, 124 Wis. 534 (102 N. W. 1054). See, also, 29 Cyc. 929. This was also the rule in Massachusetts prior to 1897. Ellis v. Ginsburg, 163 Mass. 143 (39 N. E. 800). But by a legislative act of that year it was provided that a verdict shall not be set aside, except by a motion in writing, which, it has been held, takes from the court the power to act upon its own motion: Pierson v. Boston El. R. Co., 191 Mass. 229 (77 N. E. 769). These authorities, however, recognize the fact that it is within the power of the court to abuse this right, and that it should only be exercised in extreme cases where, without it, there would be a miscarriage of justice. In Bank of Willmar v. Lawler, 78 Minn. 136 (80 N. W. 868), it is said that, as a general rule, the trial courts should not exercise this power, except in aggravated cases; and in Hensley v. Davidson Bros. Co., 135 Iowa 106 (112 N. W. 227), it is said that “Resort to this power — 500 — will rarely be required, and it should be exercised with great caution and in aggravated cases only. Ample provisions are to be found in the Code of Procedure for the protection of litigants on their own application, and for the court to interfere, without affording the defeated party an opportunity to elect whether he will accept the result, lays it open to the suspicion of partisanship.” 2. Thus we see that, by virtue of the inherent power of the court, it has authority, on its own motion, or for causes other than those assigned in a motion, to set aside a judgment and grant a new trial, unless such power of the court has been limited by statute. The statute of Oregon (Section 174, L. O. L.), relating to motions for new trials, is in effect the same as that of Iowa, above quoted, namely: “A former judgment may be set aside and a new trial granted on the motion of the party aggrieved for any of the following causes materially affecting the substantial rights of such party,” etc. It contains no limitation upon the power of the court to set aside a judgment and grant a new trial upon its own motion, and it was within the court’s discretion to set the judgment aside, if error appeared in the record that did or might result in a miscarriage of justice. The court only sought to rectify its own error in giving the instruction mentioned, which instruction we must assume was erroneous, and this was within its power that the rights of the litigant might be protected, and also in justice to the court, as responsible for the impartial administration of the law. Scott v. Ford, 52 Or. 288 (97 Pac. 99), is cited by counsel for defendant as controlling in this case; but in that case there was no motion by the respondent to set aside the findings, and no error was committed on the trial as constituting a basis for an order vacating a — 501 — verdict. But the order was made for the purpose of giving the plaintiff an opportunity to amend his pleadings, and it is practically conceded in the opinion, at page 299, that the court may set aside the verdict on its own motion, “where it appears that it has been imposed upon in an ex parte proceeding or the verdict entered through improper or collusive agreements, etc., and that the court would have the power essential to its protection and that of the public under such circumstances (State ex rel. v. Adams, 84 Mo. 310, 316), but that question was not involved here.” The case cited in the above quotation says that .“an error in matter of law is one which the court ought to have the right to correct at any time during the term,” so that the result in the case of Scott v. Ford is not opposed to the conclusion we have reached in this case. As said in Hensley v. Davidson Bros. Co., 135 Iowa 106 (112 N. W. 227), occasion to do so will seldom arise and the power should be exercised only to prevent a wrong to one of the parties by correcting the error or misconduct of the jury, or an error committed by the court itself. But, so far as the record discloses, this is a case within the latter exception. The trial court concluded that it gave an erroneous instruction, tending to mislead the jury. The order of the court, vacating the judgment and granting a new trial, is affirmed. AFFIRMED.