Smith v. DeWolf

Siebeckeb, J. On the former appeal of this case by the defendant Lederer, the present defendant, DeWolf, appeared as respondent. Lederer appealed from the order of the circuit court granting a new trial in the action on the motions of the plaintiff, Smith, and this appellant, DeWolf. The verdict rendered by the jury exonerated Lederer from all liability to the plaintiff and found DeWolf guilty of actionable negligence. The plaintiff was entitled to judgment on the verdict rendered against DeWolf. Lederer assailed the order of the trial court granting a new trial on the hearing before this court. D'eWolf appeared as respondent on that hearing and claimed, as he had in the circuit court, that the [664] evidence did not sustain the verdict finding him guilty of actionable negligence, and upon oral argument and written brief contended that the trial court erred in refusing his motions “for a nonsuit at the close of the plaintiff’s case,' and again erred in refusing defendant’s motion to direct a verdict in his favor,” and that if this court did not find that the plaintiff’s complaint against DeWolf should he dismissed, then the order granting a new trial in the action should be affirmed. The same points were argued on a motion in this court for a rehearing and to modify the mandate of this court so as to authorize the circuit court to re-examine the questions raised by his motions for a nonsuit and a directed verdict, if the motion for a. rehearing be denied, and thus preserve to him the right to have his alleged errors reviewed by this court on an appeal if the circuit court awarded judgment against him on the verdict rendered by the jury. These motions were denied by this court, and the mandate, directing a reversal of the order granting a new trial and judgment on the verdict in favor of Lederer against the plaintiff with costs, and in favor of the plaintiff against DeWolf for the amount of damages found by the jury, with costs, was permitted to stand. Upon this appeal the defendant, DeWolf, urges that the complaint states no cause of action against him; and that the findings of the jury to the effect that a defect in the hoisting device of the elevator caused it to fall and injure the plaintiff, that he agreed to keep the elevator in repair, that he was notified of such defect and undertook to repair it, and that his failure to repair it and make it safe was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s' injuries, are not sustained by the evidence in the case. The trial court properly ruled that where the mandate of this court directs the entry of a final judgment in the court, below, no further proceeding can be taken in the trial court and that it must enter judgment as directed in the mandate. This question has been repeatedly passed upon by this court. [665] The subject was fully considered in the recent case of Monahan v. Fairbanks-Morse Mfg. Co. 150 Wis. 512, 137 N. W. 748, and the doctrine of the adjudications approved. It was declared that this court on appeal has not only presented to it the questions arising on the errors assigned, but also what disposition shall be made of the action, if any of the errors assigned are sustained. The record discloses that the questions now raised in this court on the merits of appellant’s exception to the rulings of the trial court are the same that were presented by him on the former appeal of Lederer, and that counsel then in substance presented all of the arguments and reasons now urged upon the court in support thereof. We have however deemed it appropriate to look into the record, in the light of appellant’s asseverations, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not this court did an injustice to appellant in directing the trial, court to enter judgment against him for the amount of the damages found, with costs. A painstaking review of the record presented by the appellant in support of his exceptions has convinced us that this court’s direction to the trial .court to enter judgment against him on the verdict was fully justified, for the reason that appellant’s contention that the trial court erred in holding that the plaintiff had established a good cause of action against him is not sustained. The complaint alleges a good cause of action and the evidence abundantly sustains the findings of the jury. The trial court properly held that the mandate of this court is conclusive upon the parties and that final judgment had to be entered accordingly. By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.