Hascall v. Brooks

Long, J. Defendant signed a bond as surety for Sarah Stewart bn appeal to the circuit court from a judgment rendered before a justice of the peace. The judgment was for $213.28. The bond was given for the same amount. The appeal was dismissed in the circuit court, on-the ground that the bond was not sufficient in amount. The bond was conditioned— “That if the above-bounden Sarah Stewart shall prosecute her said appeal with all due diligence to a decision in the said circuit court, and, if a judgment be rendered against her in said circuit court, shall pay the amount of such judgment, including all the costs, with interest thereon; and, in case the said appeal shall be discontinued or dismissed, if the said Sarah Stewart shall pay the amount of such judgment rendered against her in said justice’s court, including all costs, with interest thereon, then this obligation to be void; otherwise in force.” The order was made in the circuit court that the appeal be dismissed unless a new and sufficient bond be filed within 1Ó days. No new bond was filed, and the final order of dismissal was entered. Execution was thereupon issued from justice’s court against Sarah Stewart, and returned unsatisfied. This action of debt on the [385] bond was then commenced in the circuit court, and, on the hearing, the court, upon findings of fact, entered judgment in favor of defendant. Defendant contends in support of this finding that inasmuch as the only defect in the bond was the amount, and the appellee (the plaintiff here) having moved to dismiss the appeal, he cannot now be heard to claim anything under the bond, as he had deliberately refused to receive it, and by so doing had destroyed the only consideration for which it was given, to wit, the right of defendant’s principal to appeal. We are unable to agree with this contention. The bond operated as a stay of proceedings, and the party appealing had the right under How. Stat. § 7018, to amend the bond or file a new one. That section provides that no appeal shall be dismissed on account of any informality or imperfection in the bond. The bond given, though not sufficient in the amount of the penalty, conferred jurisdiction upon the circuit court to act in the premises. The circuit court had no power to dismiss the appeal in the first instance, but to order a new bond, and, in default of compliance with that order, then to dismiss the appeal. The appellee, in moving to dismiss in default of a new and sufficient bond, was only exercising his right to have a sufficient bond to cover the damages and costs, as the statute prescribes. He did not, however, in taking that action, release his rights under the former bond until the order of the court had been complied with, and a new bond filed. In Meserve v. Clark, 115 Ill. 580, it was held that, though no appeal was effectuated, yet the party had the right to bring suit on the appeal bond. The court said: “The question is not whether the appeal was properly taken, for it is conceded that it was not, but the question is, ought the appellant in a suit upon the bond, be heard to say that no appeal was ever taken?” In Skidmore v. Hull, 33 Mo. App. 41, the action was [386] on an. appeal, bond to tbe .circuit from a judgment before a' justice. Tbe appeal bad been dismissed for some defect in tbe affidavit upon tbe bond. Tbe objection was made, as in tbe. present case, that tbe appellees bad moved to dismiss tbe appeal, and could not then proceed on tbe bond. Tbe court said: ■ •■“Because the plaintiffs moved to dismiss tbe appeal for tbe lack of a proper affidavit does not estop them, from, bringing .an action on the appeal bond; especially in' yiew of the fact’that the dismissal could have been avoided by filing' a proper and' competent bond, or supplying tbe omission in tbe one already filed under tbe 'statute.” ' ■ ■ The above case is in point with tbe present, and states the true rule. ' :The court below in tbe present case took tbe view of , the case insisted upon by counsel for defendant here, ' and rendered judgment in favor of defendant. Tbe judgment must be reversed, and a new trial ordered. The other Justices concurred.