State ex rel. Illinois Surety Co. v. Superior Court for Jefferson County
State ex rel. Illinois Surety Co. v. Superior Court for Jefferson County
Opinion of the Court
Certiorari to review proceedings in the superior court of Jefferson county resulting in a judgment for costs against the relator as surety upon a nonresident’s cost bond. There is no dispute as to the facts.
The relator contends, (1) that it was released from all liability on the nonresident cost bond by the entry of the original judgment for the plaintiff, its principal, in the trial court, notwithstanding the reversal of that judgment as erroneous by this court with direction to dismiss the action; (-2) that in any event the surety on the nonresident cost bond is bound only for the costs incurred in the trial court and not for the costs of the appeal.
The first position cannot be sustained on any sound theory. As we read the statute, Rem. & Bal. Code, § 495 (P. C. 81 § 1317), it concludes the question. It provides that the bond shall be conditioned that the sureties, “will pay such costs and charges as may be awarded against the plaintiff by judgment, or in the progress of the action,” not exceeding $200. There is nothing in this section indicating that the bond shall be discharged by an erroneous judgment in favor of the plaintiff subsequently reversed, any more than that it shall become absolute by an erroneous judgment in favor of the defendant subsequently reversed. A reversed judgment is no judgment. It is superseded by the judgment ordered on appeal or rendered pursuant to an order for a new trial. The trial costs are taxable in the trial court. They go, as
The second question is one of greater difficulty. It is urged, with much apparent reason, that the costs of the appeal are costs and charges awarded against the plaintiff “in the progress of the action,” hence fall within the terms of the nonresident’s bond. That bond, however, is required only as a condition precedent to the prosecution of the action by a nonresident in the lower court, and then only on demand. The statute providing for it makes no reference to an appeal. The statute governing appeals makes the appeal ineffectual for any purpose unless the party appealing file an appeal bond in the sum of $200, conditioned “that the appellant will pay all costs and damages that may be awarded him on the appeal, or on the dismissal thereof.” Rem. & Bal. Code, §§ 1721, 1722 (P. C. 81 §§ 1193, 1195). A reading of the two statutes convinces us that it was the intention of the legislature that the two distinct bonds should be given in aid of the exercise of the distinct jurisdiction of the two courts,
There are authorities from other jurisdictions which hold contrary to the view here expressed. They are, however, all meagerly reasoned and rest upon statutes unlike our own.
The judgment against the. relator should include only the costs accruing in the trial court. The cause is remanded with direction to so modify the judgment.
Main, Gose, and Chadwick, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State of Washington, on the Relation of Illinois Surety Company v. The Superior Court for Jefferson County
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Costs — Security — Liability on Nonresident Cost Bond ■— Reversal of Judgment. The surety on a nonresident’s cost bond in the court below is not discharged from liability on the bond by an erroneous judgment for its principal, the plaintiff, where such judgment was reversed on appeal and the action dismissed with costs to the defendant; as a reversed judgment is no judgment; in view of Rem. & Bal. Code, § 495, providing that the bond shall be conditioned to pay all such costs and charges as may bé awarded to the plaintiff by the judgment, or in the progress of the action. Same — Liability on Nonresident Cost Bond — Cost on Appeal. Liability on a nonresident plaintiff’s bond for costs, awarded against plaintiff “by the judgment or in the progress” of the action, under Rem. & Bal. Code, § 495, is limited to costs in the lower court, notwithstanding the judgment was reversed on appeal by defendants, with costs on appeal; in,view of the fact that the bond is provided as a condition precedent to action, and then only on demand, and in view of Id., §§ 1721, 1722, providing that the appellant furnish another distinct appeal bond conditioned to pay costs and damages awarded on the appeal.