Whiteley v. Ingham Circuit Judge

Long, J. This was an action of ejectment, and on the trial in the circuit court the plaintiff had judgment. The defendants removed the case to this court by writ of error, where the judgment was affirmed. Subsequently defendants exercised their statutory right of a second trial, by the entry of the usual order, conditioned on the payment of all costs up to that time, which costs the defendants paid, and the case stood for trial in the usual manner. Before another trial was reached, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed her suit; the defendants consenting thereto on payment of costs to be taxed. The defendants presented [618] to the clerk of the circuit court a bill of costs .for taxation,, which included the statutory fees and costs of the trial in the circuit court, as given to prevailing parties. Objection being made to these costs, the clerk, upon a hearing in the matter, disallowed the same, but taxed such costs and fees as defendants were entitled to arising subsequent to-the order granting the second trial. On motion for re-taxation before the circuit judge, the clerk’s action was. affirmed, and the order was made of which relators complain. The respondent contends that there is no statute entitling the relators to tax the costs and fees of the first trial, and that they are entitled only to such costs and fees as are given by law on the discontinuance of a case. It is insisted that the proceedings to and including the first trial were fully and forever closed when the order for a second trial was entered, and the defendants, as a condition therefor, paid the costs of that trial, which the statute imposed, and that, therefore, relators cannot claim any costs arising before that time. On the other hand, counsel claim that the relators are entitled to all their costs incurred since the commencement of suit, under the provisions of section 11260, 3 Comp. Laws 1897, which provides : “In all actions and proceedings in which the plaintiff would be entitled to costs upon a judgment rendered in his favor, if, after the appearance of the defendant, such plaintiff be non-suited, discontinue his suit, be non-prossed, or judgment pass against him on verdict, demurrer, or otherwise, * * * the defendant shall have judgment to recover against such plaintiff his full costs, which shall have the like effect as all other judgments.” We think the relators are correct in their contention. The claim made by them is not that they are entitled to recover back what they paid on the removal of the case to this court, nor what they paid to obtain a second trial in the action of ejectment. Those costs they would have no right to recover, under the rule laid down in Jeffery v. [619] Hursh, 58 Mich. 246, 259, as they were costs paid in compliance with the statutory requirements giving them a new trial. Their claim is that they are entitled to recover their costs of a trial in ejectment; that is, attorney fees: (1) For proceedings before notice of trial, $15; (2) for subsequent proceedings before trial, $5; (3) for trial of issues of fact, $15, — together with term fees when case is on calendar and not reached, some other disbursements, and their witness fees. We think relators are entitled to recover these fees, amounting to $99, under the provisions of the section above quoted. The clerk, however, struck out all their costs, except proceedings before notice of trial, $15; for all subsequent proceedings before trial, $5; March, term fees, 1899, $5; May term fees, 1899, $5; affidavit to bill of costs, 25 cents; taxation of costs, 25 cents, — making $30.50 allowed the relators as costs, thus striking out their attorney fees for trial of cause, the stenographer fees, and all witness fees; and this was affirmed by the circuit court. The relators’ taxable costs were properly stated by them in their tax bill; and the order of the circuit court and the action of the clerk of that court must be reversed, and the costs taxed as claimed by relators, and set forth in their tax bill. The relators will recover the costs of this motion. The cause will be so certified to the circuit court. Montgomery, C. J., Hooker and Moore, JJ., concurred with Long, J.