Greenberg v. Lesamis
Greenberg v. Lesamis
Opinion of the Court
The court is asked to reopen this case on a second motion for a new trial, but I can see no justification for doing so. Neither section 1057, nor any other section of the Alaska law, provides for any such second motion, and section 925 has no application to this case.
In the case of Kentucky Central R. Co. v. Smith, 93 Ky. 449, 20 S. W. 392, 18 L. R. A. 67, and Lookabaugh v. Cooper, 5 Okl. 102, 48 Pat. 99, this question is discussed and decided with reference to-a statute similar to section 1057, and I think the decisions in those cases lay down the correct rule or doctrine. I do not mean to say that there are no circumstances in which this court would reopen a case on a second motion, but this is not one of them.
In the case at bar, however, the trial was solely before the judge, without a jury. It was a case in equity, and while there was a mass of evidence, it may reasonably be inferred that the judge had it well in mind. The trial lasted several days, and doubtless the case was elaborately and ably argued. The judge took ample time to consider the case for he did not render his decision until October 28th, about 10 days after the trial.
Having reached the conclusion, therefore, that the second motion for a new trial should be overruled, it is unnecessary to pass on the questions raised on the motion βto strike.β Counsel for the defendants suggest, however, that the hearing of argument on that motion resulted in an injustice to the defense, in that it gave the plaintiff the opening and conclusion of the argument on the second motion for a new trial. But the court is satisfied that the defense has suffered no harm there
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GREENBERG v. LESAMIS
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. New Trial A second motion for a new trial may not be made in Alaska, under section 1057, Comp. Laws 1913. 2. New Trial Where the judge who heard an equity case, and is familiar with the evidence, facts, and pleadings, overruled a motion for a new trial without hearing argument, held, not ground for a new trial on a second motion heard before the successor to the trial judge. See same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes.