Locke & Co. v. Dakin & Dakin

Simon, J., delivered the opinion of the court. Plaintiffs seek to recover a balance of account for materials furnished defendants for erecting four houses. The cause was referred to an auditor, who, after having taken, in writing, the testimony presented to him, reported a balance in favor of plaintiffs. The report was filed; and on the 14th of July, 1838, the plaintiffs’ counsel obtained a rule on the defendants, to show cause why it should not be confirmed and made the judgment of the court. On the 25th, defendants show, among other causes, that the auditor had acted without being sworn, as required bylaw; and on the 31st the auditor, with the permission of the court, took an oath that he had, to the best of bis knowledge and ability, performed the duties devolving on him as auditor, &c., and that no request had been made of him by either of the parties, to take the oath. The district judge overruled the objection, confirmed the report, and made it the basis of his judgment. From this judgment, the defendants have appealed. The only question submitted to our consideration, is that resulting from the objection made to the report of the auditor, on the ground that he acted without being sworn. The [426] article 448, of the Code of Practice, says, that “ the, auditor must, at the request of either of the parties, take an oath before any judge or justice of the peace, to perform faithfully his functions; the oath must be taken in writing, at the foot of the copy of the order of the court, and must be annexed to the report. Hence, it is contended that no request having been made in this case, the auditor was at liberty to proceed without being sworn; and that, at all events, if an oath be necessary, it is sufficient if it be taken before the confirmation of the report. We cannot agree with the plaintiffs’ counsel, and we think the district judge erred in overruling the objection. ■ In our opinion, the expressions “at the request of either of the parties,” used in the 448th article of the Code of Practice, indicate only that the auditor is to commence his proceedings at the request of one of the parties; and as the first proceeding is to take the oath, this is to be done after, or when one of them has requested him to act. Were we to adopt the construction contended for, it would follow not only that experts and auditors, would be permitted to act without the sanctity of an oath, if the parties forget or neglect to request them to be sworn, but that also the notice required by the article 450, might be dispensed with, and the auditors authorized to proceed ex parte, if not requested by one of the parties to give notice to the other. Where an auditor has been appointed, when he commences his proceedings, the first act is to take the oath, which must be in writing althe foot of the order of court, and annexed to his report. In all cases, whether the auditors have been quested^or not-, they thmustai'be sworn, and must tive notice to the adverse The circumstance, that an auditor made his report without taking the oath, but swore to it before homologation, is insufficient to cure the defect. Had the auditor taken his oath at any time before completing his business, it would be sufficient. This construction would certainly be absurd; and the only meaning we can give to the expressions used in articles 448 and 450, of the Code of Practice is, that experts and audilit,,',, tors ought to proceed, when they have been requested to do s0 by either of the parties; but in all cases, and whether ttyey have been specially requested or not, thev must be J , J sworn, and must give notice to the adverse party. The circumstance in this case, that the auditor took an oa,b before the homologation of the report, is not, in our opinion, sufficient to cure the defect. His réport had been signed and filed, the rule to show cause had been served on t-be adverse party, and their objections were regularly before court. So far, the auditor had acted illegally; and it was not in his power, nor in the power of the court, to deprive [427] the defendant of the benefit of their legal objections. Had the auditor taken his oath at any time before completing his proceedings, and before signing the report, we should have been disposed to consider it sufficient; but in this case, we think it was too late. It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled, avoided and reversed; that the report of the auditor be set aside, and that this case be remanded to the District Court for new proceedings, according to law; the plaintiffs and appellees paying costs in this court.