Ranck v. Merrill
Ranck v. Merrill
Opinion of the Court
Tbis suit was brought in a justice court under tbe Landlord and Tenant Act, for tbe possession of certain hotel property in Kansas City, Missouri. Tbe justice rendered judgment for plaintiff on February 21, 1912.
On February 26, 1912, defendant filed a bond for appeal conditioned as required in ordinary eases, but not as required by section 7912, Revised Statute 1909, of tbe Landlord and Tenant Act. There was no affidavit filed. A blank form of affidavit accompanied tbe bond, but as no oath was taken or administered by any one, tbis blank form was not an affidavit under tbe definition given in Barbydt v. Alexander, 59 Mo. App. 188, or tbe one given either by the court, or by Sherwood, J., in bis dissenting opinion, in Hargadine v. Van Horn, 72 Mo. 371.
On March 20, 1912, after the ten days allowed by the statute for perfecting the appeal had expired, the papers in the case and a transcript of the justice’s record, still showing no order allowing an appeal, was filed in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of Jackson county, Missouri, and the cause was docketed in said court as having been appealed from the justice court.
On April 3, 1912, respondent filed a motion to dismiss on the ground, among others, that no appeal had been taken or allowed, and the circuit court, therefore, had no jurisdiction. Before this motion was passed on, the defendant filed an application for leave to amend the transcript. Plaintiff objected to any amendment of the transcript not based upon anything shown in the justice’s record. The trial court proceeded to hear evidence on the application for leave to amend. The justice was sworn and took the stand and his docket was introduced in evidence. There was nothing in it to show any affidavit filed, nor order allowing appeal, nor any application for appeal on the part of defendant in any way except the entry, noted above, to-wit: “February 26, 1912, defendant files bond in appeal.” The justice testified that the docket showed all the proceedings that were had in the case; that there was no other record showing anything in relation to an appeal except the ..approval of the bond indorsed by him on the back thereof. He testified that this bond was handed to him, not in his justice’s office, but at a place outside of his justice district; that it was handed to him by defendant, and he approved it but handed it back to her with directions to take it to her attorneys and have them
Appellant has raised a number of questions for consideration, among them, the contention that appeals under the Landlord and Tenant Act are governed by the statutes covering appeals in other civil cases (See. 7912, R. S. Mo. 1909)that, in appeals in those cases, the statute forbids a dismissal of the case from the circuit court for want of an affidavit or bond, or for insufficiency or defects therein, (See. 7580); that the mere sending of the papers to the circuit clerk’s office and filing them there, is of itself alone, an allowance of the appeal by the justice, sufficient to give the circuit court jurisdiction (See. 7579). But the difficulty in allowing- defendant any benefit from these friendly and curative statutes, is that it nowhere appears that, within the time allowed by the statute, defendant either applied for an appeal or that one was allowed her by the justice. The appeal must be made within ten days. [Sec. 7568, R. S. Mo. 1909.] A bond must be executed (Ibid) and affidavit must be filed (See. 7570) and “upon an appeal being made according to the foregoing provisions, the justice shall allow the same, and immediately make an entry of such allowance in his docket.” [Sec. 7572.]
Section 7580 by its very terms is dealing with appeals “allowed by a justice.” Now the justice cannot allow an appeal after the ten days have expired. Of course, if he fails or refuses to allow an appeal he can be compelled to do so. [Sec. 7573.] But this is only in cases where “the appeal ought to be allowed,” that is, where the party desiring the appeal has taken the steps required by the statute within the time specified. If these steps were not taken in time, relief will not be granted. Kelm v. Hunkier, 49 Mo. App. 664.] This case also holds that to uphold the jurisdiction of the circuit court, in cases appealed to it from justices of the peace,” it is nec
The action of the trial court in dismissing the alleged appeal is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.