Berwind-White Coal Mining Co. v. Borinquen Sugar Co.
Berwind-White Coal Mining Co. v. Borinquen Sugar Co.
Opinion of the Court
delivered tbe following opinion:
Upon tbe day set for tbe bearing of tbe masters report, tbe solicitor of Orenstein, Koppel, & Company, wbo bas not filed any exception, asks that time be allowed for bim to file exceptions, on tbe ground that no notice was given bim of tbe report. Tbis is opposed by counsel for tbe purchasers, and tbe question comes up whether it is necessary for tbe master to give notice of tbe filing of bis report, or for tbe clerk to give notice of tbe filing of tbe master’s report, or whether tbe filing of tbe report stands by itself a matter of which tbe parties are bound to take notice and act accordingly.
1. In tbe first place, tbe only party interested, that is, counsel for tbe purchasers, is satisfied that no notice is required, and contends that tbe report stands confirmed as to everyone Avbo does not except, so that there is no question that, if tbe court is in error in making tbe ruling, at all events it is an error of which tbe purchaser cannot complain. Tbe rule in question is rule 66, which says: “Tbe master, as soon as his report is ready, shall return tbe same into the clerk’s office, and tbe day of tbe return shall be entered by tbe clerk in tbe equity docket. Tbe parties shall have twenty days from tbe time of tbe filing of tbe report to file exceptions thereto, and if no exceptions are within that period filed by either party, tbe report
• 2. The general principle is that what is done in court is something of which the parties are bound to take notice. It is true that practically this may be difficult in some cases, but it is a question whether it would not introduce more trouble to require that notice must be given to the parties in interest. If notice is given, it must be served by someone and a return is needed, and there will be the question of service always. The parties certainly know when the master has concluded his hearings and they can readily ascertain when he files his report, and it seems to the court that the parties should be held to take cognizance of the filing of the report. It comes up in open court and is read, and at the time an order is made that there are twenty days allowed for exceptions. Twenty days would hardly run without a party who is diligent being able to inquire of the clerk on the subject. So practically it does not seem as if there ought to be much difficulty, and the court
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BERWIND-WHITE COAL MINING COMPANY v. BORINQUEN SUGAR COMPANY
- Status
- Published