J. Thompson & Sons Manufacturing Co. v. Ferch
J. Thompson & Sons Manufacturing Co. v. Ferch
Opinion of the Court
This was an action brought in the municipal court for the city of ■Ortonville to recover $45.73, alleged to be the balance due upon two promissory notes, and on account of goods, wares, and merchandise sold and delivered. The court in question was organized under the
1. It is contended by defendants’ counsel that their offer for judgment, which was made by virtue of G. S. 1894, § 4976, — a section which relates to justice’s court, — precluded plaintiff from recovering costs and disbursements accruing -subsequently, because the recovery in district court was for an amount less than that offered; and he also contends that, by virtue -of section 5405, one of the general provisions relating to district courts, the result must be the same. -But if it should be admitted that the provisions of the last mentioned section apply to actions instituted in municipal courts organized under chapter 229, supra, the admission would be of no value to defendants, because the terms of that section were not complied with in the matter of service of the offer upon plaintiff.
In an action brought in justice’s court, the statute is complied with by filing the offer in court, but, if the offer is made in an action brought in district court, it must be served on the adverse party. There is' nothing of record to show that the offer was served, and, in fact, it requires some relaxation of the rule laid down in respect to returns to this court for us to hold that it appears that it was ever filed in the municipal court. But chis is not very material, for there is nothing in the municipal court act which will' justify us in holding that either of these sections applies to actions
2. As we understand counsel for defendants, he makes the further claim that the last clause of Gf. S. 1894, § 5511, applies to actions brought to the district court' on appeal from the municipal court in question, and, on the facts, that the clerk of the district court should have taxed costs and disbursements in favor of his clients. It is probably true that, by reason of .sections 19 and 38 of chapter 229, the provisions of section 5511 are applicable, in a proper case;. but it is evident that the recovery in the municipal court was not reduced one-half on appeal to the district court, nor does it appear from the record that defendants were the successful parties on the only matter litigated in the action. To have the benefit.of section 5511, this must be clearly made to appear by the record.
3. Counsel for both parties disregarded rule 15, and caused the case to be set down for oral argument, although the amount involved was less than $100. For this reason, no statutory costs will be allowed to the prevailing party. Vaule v. Steenerson, 63 Minn. 110, 65 N. W. 257.
Judgment affirmed.
BROWN, J., having, when district judge, made the order affirming the clerk’s taxation, took no part therein.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. THOMPSON & SONS MANUFACTURING COMPANY v. CHARLES J. FERCH and Another
- Status
- Published