Wisecarver v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co.
Wisecarver v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
In the year 1906-plaintiff brought action in the district court of Jefferson County against the defendant to recover damages which it alleged it had sustained by reason of an injury to a horse which had been shipped over defendant’s line of railroad. The defendant appeared, filed answer, and a petition for removal to the Circuit Court of the United States on the ground of diversity of citizenship. This petition was denied on the 3d
The appeal is from the latter part of this order, and presents two questions for our consideration. The first of these is the jurisdiction of the- district court to render judgment for the costs made therein while the case is in the federal court and undetermined; and, second, assuming that such jurisdiction exists, should such order be made until the final -judgment is rendered by the court which shall finally decide the case? As to the first proposition, we entertain no doubt of the jurisdiction of the district court to render judgment for costs which accrued in that court, even though it should finally hold that the petition for removal filed before the accrual of these costs, or the major párt of them, should have been sustained. The second question is of more doubt; but we are constrained to hold that until the final determination of the case no order should be made in the district court regarding the costs taxed in that suit.
It does not appear that the case has been tried in the United States court, nor is there any showing of a. judgment therein. Moreover, it does not appear whether a motion to remand has been filed, submitted, or determined in that court. The most that can be said for the record is that the action is now pending there. It may be that this case will eventually be remanded to the district court of Jefferson County for trial, and in that event it would become the duty of the court trying that case to make a proper order as to costs. If defendant in such event were successful, the entire costs would be charged to the plaintiff. If, on the other hand, plaintiff should secure the verdict, the costs might either be apportioned or taxed to the defendant. Surely this .would be true as to some of. the items of costs which were taxed as part of the original judgment. Defendant’s motion included all of the costs of
Our conclusion finds some support in Palmer v. Palmer, 97 Iowa, 454. In that case it -appeared that the action had been transferred to the equity docket, and a hearing had uj>on the merits resulting in a decree against the plaintiff. Upon appeal to this court it was determined that a motion to transfer to the equity docket should have been overruled, and the decree was reversed. The case was again tried in the district court as a law action, resulting in a verdict and final judgment for the defendant. Upon motion the district court taxed all the costs, including those made on the first trial of the cause to the plaintiff. Plaintiff excepted and appealed, and the order was affirmed, the court saying: “. . . We think it has always been the practice that, when one trial has been had, and the verdict is set aside by the district court, or the cause reversed in this court, and another trial is had in the district court, the costs of the first trial follow those of the last. In the ease at bar the final result showed that the plaintiff instituted and prosecuted an unfounded claim, and in the first trial, as well' as the last, he was the defeated party, and 'the order requiring him to-pay the cost which accrued in the district court is right.”
The order of the district court is therefore affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Wisecarver & Reynard v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company
- Status
- Published