First National Bank v. Baker , 60 Iowa 132 ( 1882 )

Seevers, Ch. J.

This is an action in equity. For a state-ment of tbe issues and tbe nature of tbe relief asked, see 57 Iowa, 197. Tbe Circuit Court dismissed tbe petition, aiid upon appeal to tbis court tbis ruling was reversed, and the plain tiff moves for judgment in tbis court. Tbe defendant resists tbe motion on tbe ground that both bis counsel and the Circuit Court were misled by counsel for tbe plaintiff, tbe claim being that counsel for tbe plaintiff perpetrated a fraud on the Circuit Court. Several affidavits have been filed by tbe defendant supporting his theory, and affidavits have been bled by tbe plaintiff contradictory thereto. Admitting that we have tbe jurisdiction to weigh and consider these affidavits, as would a court of original jurisdiction, we havecarei fully read and re-read the several affidavits before us, and feel constrained to say the defendant has failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that his attorneys or the court were in any respect misled or deceived by the attorneys for plaintiff. It is unnecessary to set out the evidence or state our reasons. If it be conceded that it is not our province to consider and weigh the evidence submitted in the form of affidavits, then the motion must be determined on the record alone. So that, as the defendant has failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that either his counsel or the court was misled by counsel for the plaintiff, we can only look to and determine the motion by a consideration of the record-

Under the constitution, the cause, when before the court at the former term, was tried de novo in this court. This being so, it must ordinarily follow that the successful party, if he asks it, is entitled to a decree in this court. Such has been the practice ever since the adoption of the constitution.

Counsel for the defendant do not deny this is so, but claim that this court may, and will, in a proper case and for a sufficient reason, remand chancery cases to the court below for further proceeding therein, in accord with the opinion of - this court. This claim we do not understand counsel for the plaintiff to controvert, but they insist that no sufficient reason has been shown why the plaintiff is not entitled to a decree in this court. Looking as we must to the record alone, we find the case was submitted by both parties on the pleadings, and we have determined that, on the pleadings, the court erred in dismissing the petition, and reversed the decree below. In substance, this court found that on the pleadings the plaintiff is entitled to a decree.

We are now asked to have it entered of record, and our conclusion is that this must be done. If we do not, then we inaugurate a different practice from that which has prevailed for years, and practically ignore the constitutional provision. For, if we should decline to enter a deeree in this case, it would form a precedent, and hereafter no decree could be consistently entered in this court if one of the parties objected thereto. The motion must be

Granted.