Cook v. Wolverine Stockyards Co.
Cook v. Wolverine Stockyards Co.
Opinion of the Court
A jury returned verdict for plaintiffs. The court entered judgment non obstante veredicto for defendant. We granted plaintiffs leave to appeal in the nature of mandamus. The case has come up on a settled record without bill of exceptions or settled case, defendant, as appellee, thus having been left with the alternative of assuming the burden of procuring an expensive transcript of an extended trial and, as cross appellant, preparing and noticing a proposed bill of exceptions in order to urge here the other grounds it advanced below in support of its motions for new trial and judgment non obstante veredicto, or waiving consideration thereof here and running the risk of reversal and entry of judgment on the verdict without determination of its other asserted grounds. Peters v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 282 Mich 426. The judgment non obstante veredicto was a final judgment which disposed of the case, and for review of which writ of error or, under present court rules which have left the character of the remedy of mandamus unchanged (Quail v. Cole, 260 Mich 642), general appeal would lie and afford the adequate and proper remedy. We are now satisfied, therefore, that leave to appeal in the nature of mandamus was improvi
Onr granting of leave having occasioned the expense of this appeal and anticipating the possibility of application for leave to take a delayed general appeal on the same limited assignment of errors here presented if they be not now determined, we deem it appropriate to observe that we do not consider them well taken. Plaintiffs’ declaration planted their right to recover on a series of transactions, all of which occurred under or in connection with an alleged agreement between plaintiff husband and defendant, by which the former agreed to buy and sell cattle for defendant but to take title in his own name for the purpose of evading the statutes, Michigan public service commission rules and taxes applicable to his transportation thereof if the truth of defendant’s ownership were disclosed; also set up in the declaration as in furtherance of such scheme and as partial basis of plaintiffs’ claimed right to recover, was a chattel mortgage allegedly given by plaintiffs to defendant. The trial court held that an illegal contract, against public policy, had been pleaded and that under such circumstances courts will not enforce it or grant relief thereunder but leave the parties where they have placed themselves. In this the court was correct. Richardson v. Buhl, 77 Mich 632 (6 LRA 457); Cashin v. Pliter, 168 Mich 386 (Ann Cas 1913C, 697); Mulliken v. Naph-Sol Refining Co., 302 Mich 410; Day v. Chamberlain, 223 Mich 278; Dettloff v. Hammond, Standish & Co., 195 Mich 117 (14 NCCA 901); Turner v. Schmidt Brewing Co.,
Appeal dismissed. Costs to defendant.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring in part). I agree with Mr. Justice Dethmers that the writ should be denied for the first reason stated in his opinion, namely, that appeal in the nature of mandamus ought not to have been allowed. In this case, a final judgment of no
I am not in accord with determining the case on its merits in this appeal in the nature of mandamus. In the abbreviated record filed here, limited to the issue on an appeal in the nature of mandamus, we do not have the complete record which we would otherwise have if this w’ere here on general appeal. Consequently, I wmuld deny the writ and remand the case to the trial court, without prejudice to plaintiffs’ right to file and have determined either a motion to set aside the judgment, a motion for entry of judgment on the verdict, a motion for a new trial, or the right to take a general appeal. In the absence of a record here on general appeal, I am unable to decide whether other grounds, if any, on which the plaintiffs relied in their declaration, were supported by testimony and properly submitted to the jury, resulting in verdict for the plaintiffs.
Appeal dismissed and remanded, without prejudice. No costs should be awarded.
Reference
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- Cook v. Wolverine Stockyards Company
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- Published