Howard v. Hardware Mutual Casualty Co.
Howard v. Hardware Mutual Casualty Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit filed by Mrs. Leona Howard, individually and for and on behalf of her minor child, and against Marvin L. Mobley, his employer, Southern Truck Service Company, Inc., and its insurer, Hardware Mutual Casualty Company, for damages resulting from the death of petitioner’s estranged husband as a result of a shooting. The Lower Court awarded judgment in favor of petitioner, individually in the sum of $5,339.50, and refused to award any damages to the minor child of deceased. Both parties have appealed.
Following the granting of writs by the Supreme Court to review our original judgment dismissing the appeal of Leona Howard, individually and on behalf of her minor child, the Supreme Court said:
“The affidavit of the Clerk of Court appears to support the conclusion that sufficient funds had been deposited by plaintiff with the Clerk’s Office to entitle her to a credit of $25, enough to cover the filing fee needed to lodge her appeal with the Court of Appeal. Moreover, counsel’s affidavit that he made inquiries in the Clerk’s office concerning the costs for appeal and was told they were paid would, perhaps, support the conclusion that plaintiff tendered costs. These matters are not clear, however, and we are reluctant to adjudicate the issue on the basis of these ex parte affidavits. Cobb v. Bergeron, 223 So.2d 483 (La.App. 1969). The ends of justice would be best served by a remand to the district court for the taking of testimony to clarify the facts on the issue in dispute. This will afford all parties an opportunity to support their respective claims with proper evidence.
Accordingly, it is ordered that the judgment of the court of appeal dismissing plaintiff’s appeal be set aside, and the case is remanded to the lower court for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed.”
Thus, we find that the Supreme Court remanded this matter to the District Court solely for the taking of testimony as to whether the failure to pay the filing fee was that of plaintiff or her attorney. The jurisdiction of the matter to be determined remains in the Supreme Court and the only matter referred to the Trial Court was the taking of further evidence. This Court, therefore, is without power to determine the matters at issue.
R.S. 13:4441 provides in part that:
“When an appeal is taken and perfected to an appellate court having no jurisdiction thereof, the court to which it is taken may transfer it to the court having jurisdiction thereof, instead of dismissing the appeal. The appellate court to which the appeal is transferred shall proceed as if the appeal had been taken to it originally.”
' Article 2162 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure further provides in part as follows:
“If an appeal is taken to an appellate court which has no jurisdiction over it, the court may transfer the appeal to the proper court, upon such terms and conditions as it may prescribe.”
The sole purpose of the remand was for the taking of evidence. The Supreme Court did not divest itself of jurisdiction in remanding the case and, therefore, the proper forum for the determination of the issues in question is with the Supreme Court.
For the reasons hereinabove assigned, this matter will be transferred to the Supreme Court.
Case transferred to the Supreme Court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mrs. Leona HOWARD v. HARDWARE MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published