Farmers National Bank v. Backus ( 1895 )

COLLINS, J.²

Order to show cause why a receiver of certain real! property, in possession, should not he required to turn over and deliver such possession to appellant, Burdic, pending the determination of an appeal taken to the court from an order appointing such-receiver. The nature of the main action may be seen by reference to State v. Egan, 62 Minn. 280, 64 N. W. 813, in which we held that such', order was appealable.

Immediately upon the making and filing of the order in the court below, and before an appeal was taken, the receiver named entered' into possession of the premises involved, proceeded to collect the rents, incomes, and profits thereof, as far as possible, and has ever-since been in possession and collecting and receiving such rents, incomes, and profits. When taking the appeal, Burdic duly executed a proper and sufficient supersedeas bond, in accordance with the provisions of G. S. 1894, § 6142, which bond was duly approved and-filed. The important question now is, was the appellant entitled,, upon executing and filing such supersedeas bond, upon taking sucio appeal, and upon procuring a complete return to be made and filed in this court, to have restitution of the premises, and to be restored, to actual possession, including such powers and rights as are incidental to possession? We are satisfied that he was.

The general rule is that, if an appeal with a supersedeas be taken from an interlocutory order, that part of the case which is appealed is completely removed from the jurisdiction of the lower court, and wholly transferred to that of the higher or appellate tribunal. Elliott, App. Proc. § 542; Pierson v. McCahill, 23 Cal. 249. And the statute (section 6142, supra) expressly provides that the effect of the appeal with the bond is to “stay all proceedings” on the order, and to “save all rights affected thereby.” This was the legal effect of a., supersedeas at common law. The statutory bond stands as indemnity to the party to whom it is given — it stands in place of the action of the receiver — until the matter is heard and disposed of on appeal.. The supersedeas does not undo or render nugatory any action of the - receiver already had under the order before the appeal was taken and the bond duly filed, but it terminates the right of the lower court and: of its officer from further acting in the matter. It suspends the op- - eration of the order, or, as has been said, “paralyzes” the arm of the receiver. His authority to proceed is absolutely stayed and suspended by operation of law.

The rights and powers of the receiver being suspended, of which he was duly notified, he should have restored possession of the premises to the appellant; for, his authority to take being inoperative by the suspension, his authority to hold was equally so, both being derived from the same order. The legal effect of the appeal and supersedeas was to withdraw from the receiver the right to the possession of the property, and vest that right in the party from whom it had been taken. State v. Johnson, 13 Fla. 33 (a leading and extremely well-considered case); Buckley v. George, 71 Miss. 580, 15 South. 46; Blondheim v. Moore, 11 Md. 365; Northwestern M. L. Ins. Co. v. Park Hotel Co., 37 Wis. 125; High, Rec. § 190; 20 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 110. We have not overlooked the cases cited by counsel for plaintiff. That of Swing v. Townsend, 24 Ohio St. 1, merely decides that the office of certain receivers was not vacated by an appeal, — nothing more. In Matter of Real-Estate Associates, 58 Cal. 356, it was held that, pending an appeal from an order adjudicating a person as insolvent, the functions of the receiver were not suspended, but in that case there was no supersedeas bond filed, simply an ordinary bond on appeal. That of Bristow v. Home Bldg. Co., 91 Va. 78, 20 S. E. 946, seems to have been decided upon the somewhat peculiar circumstances before the court, in a proceeding to punish a receiver for contempt. We do not regard either of these cases as opposed to the doctrine we have adopted.

On the hearing here, it appeared that, after the cause had been certified to this court, appellant moved the court below for the exact relief sought in this proceeding, and that the motion was denied. It is urged that the only way in which this court can obtain jurisdiction of the subject-matter now under consideration is by appeal from the order made below denying the motion. We need not decide whether it was proper for appellant to first proceed in the court below to obtain possession of his property, or whether an appeal will lie to review the order denying the motion. The matter is now here on the original appeal, and this court has thereby acquired full jurisdiction over it. This court has an inherent power to make such an order as will effectuate the spirit and intent of the statute under which the bond was given, and the cause removed for our consideration. This power may rightfully be exercised to prevent the receiver from pursuing a course which takes away from the supersedeas all of its qualities, renders it a mere idle ceremony, and of no more value than an ordinary appeal bond.

The order of this court is that the receiver restore possession to the appellant pending the appeal, and also that he account and turn over to appellant all sums which have come into his hands as rents, incomes, and profits of said property from the day on which the supersedeas bond was filed in the court below.

2 Buck, J., took no part.