Summary
In Naef v. Miller-Goll Mfg. Co., 175 La. 240, 143 So. 61, it was squarely held that regardless of the amount involved in a rule to tax costs, and regardless of the fact that the main issue had been completely determined in the lower court, jurisdiction over the rule to tax costs always remains in the court which had jurisdiction of the principal demand.
Summary of this case from Vives v. VivesOpinion
No. 31804.
June 20, 1932.
Appeal from Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans; M.M. Boatner, Judge.
Suit by Mrs. Emma E. Naef, widow of Gottlieb Kuntz, against the Miller-Goll Manufacturing Company. Judgment denying application of plaintiff for appointment of a receiver for defendant was affirmed on appeal, and, from a judgment on a rule to tax costs, plaintiff appeals. On defendant's motion to dismiss appeal.
Motion denied.
H.W. Robinson and F.B. Freeland, both of New Orleans, for appellant.
A.D. Danziger, Daniel Wendling, and Albert B. Koorie, all of New Orleans, for appellee.
Plaintiff sought to have a receiver appointed for defendant, but was unsuccessful. See 174 La. 232, 140 So. 32.
Thereafter defendant took a rule in the court below to have its costs taxed, including "reasonable counsel fees and other reasonable expenses" in accordance with section 2 of Act No. 159 of 1898, as amended by Act No. 117 of 1916.
The total amount claimed in the rule was $1,918.50; the trial judge allowed $1,768.50; and plaintiff appealed to this court to which the original appeal belonged.
The appellee moves to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the amount involved is below the appellate jurisdiction of this court, and relies on In re Petit Boh Co., 128 La. 163, 54 So. 705, wherein it was held that, where there was no longer a fund to be distributed (i.e., still on hand and held for distribution), in excess of the jurisdictional amount, the appellate jurisdiction was then governed by the amount in dispute. Aliter, where there is still a fund to be distributed (i.e., still on hand and held for distribution), in excess of the jurisdictional amount. In re Receivership of Sheets Lumber Co., 104 La. 771, 29 So. 328; Denegre v. W.G. Tebault Furniture Realty Co., 130 La. 283, 57 So. 929.
But these cases have no application here. This is a case to tax costs, an incidental demand, and both original and appellate jurisdiction thereof belong where the main demand belonged. State ex rel. Johnson v. Judges of Court of Appeals, 107 La. 69, 31 So. 645; Barker v. Houssiere-Latreille Oil Co., 163 La. 555, 112 So. 415.
The motion to dismiss is therefore denied.