McKinley v. National Citizens Bank of Mankato , 127 Minn. 212 ( 1914 )

Philip E. Beown, J.

Plaintiff brought an action to recover damages for defendant’s negligent loss of logs, etc., and for conversion of certain equipment. Appellant intervened, claiming a lien on tbe logs, etc., and, reiterating tbe charge of defendant’s negligence, but making no claim as to tbe equipment, demanded judgment against defendant, to tbe exclusion of plaintiff, for $8,000. Separate verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiff and intervener for .over two and six thousand dollars respectively. Thereafter the court set tbe verdicts aside and granted defendant a new trial. Subsequently tbe action was dismissed on plaintiff’s motion, and thereupon, over intervener’s objection, costs were taxed and allowed against it and plaintiff jointly, which was later affirmed on intervener’s appeal and judgment entered against it and plaintiff jointly therefor; whereupon intervener appealed to this court.

Tbe errors assigned relate only to tbe right of defendant to costs against intervener; tbe latter asserting that no costs resulted from tbe intervention, and hence, under GL S. 1913, §' 7766, it was liable for none. This contention is predicated, so far as tbe facts are concerned, upon those already stated and also tbe following, disclosed by tbe record: Intervener was permitted to file its complaint on tbe preliminary call of tbe calendar of tbe term at which the cause was tried, and defendant’s answer was allowed to stand as tbe answer thereto, no other pleadings being made. A large number of witnesses were examined by plaintiff and defendant, but none were sworn, examined or cross-examined by or on behalf of intervener, except that, by cross-examination of plaintiff, it established its lien and right to recover to tbe extent thereof if plaintiff prevailed, whereupon it was stipulated between, them that this should be effected by separate verdicts. Intervener took no further part in the trial except to counsel with plaintiff’s attorney. The court charged that a verdict could be rendered for intervener only in case the jury found that plaintiff was entitled to recover against defendant. The claim is also made that all witnesses were called simply to support or cón-trovert the allegations of the complaint.

The statute cited reads that in case of intervention “all the issues shall be determined together, and if the intervener’s claim be not sustained he shall pay the costs resulting therefrom.” Recoveries for costs and disbursements being purely statutory, the questions involved turn upon the interpretation to be given this provision, which, however, must be read in the light of the purpose intended to be subserved by the allowance of costs generally, namely, compensation or indemnity for expenses incurred in enforcing a legal or resisting an illegal claim. Johnson v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co. 29 Minn. 425, 430, 13 N. W. 673. While, therefore, the statute plainly declares that a defeated intervener shall pay only such costs as result by reason of the intervention, it does not follow that intervener’s claim of nonliability in the present case can be sustained. It voluntarily became a party to the action, asserted the same cause of action, and had equal right with plaintiff to be heard in respect thereto. Bennett v. Whitcomb, 25 Minn. 148, 150. It was entitled to any appropriate relief under the issues presented determinable in its favor, and, speaking generally, had all the rights of a party to an action. Note, 123 Am. St. 312, etc; 30 Cyc. 139. Granting that the witnesses called by defendant merely testified upon the issues raised by the complaint in the action, yet the evidence thus adduced was equally material to the issue made by intervener’s reiteration of the allegations thereof, and defendant necessarily had to contend on the trial against the claims of both plaintiff and in-tervener. The extent of the latter’s participation in the trial is of slight consequence, and cannot be considered a determinative factor. We hold that intervener, having become practically a co-plaintiff, so that defendant was required to defend against both it and plaintiff in order to escape liability to either, there is joint liability for costs. Tbe statute should not be construed so as to allow intervener to attempt to benefit by the litigation without incurring the ordinary liabilities incident thereto. See Reay v. Butler, 99 Cal. 477, 33 Pac. 1134; Spruill v. Arrington, 109 N. C. 192, 13 S. E. 779; note, 16 Am. Dec. 184.

After verdicts, defendant obtained a tr an script and two copies of the testimony in order to move for a new trial, the expense whereof was included in the cost bill over special objection. These were legitimate expenditures in accord with common practice. The necessity of attacking two verdicts instead of one resulted from the nature of the intervention. Nor can we disturb the court’s determination, made on conflicting affidavits, as to the number of folios charged for. Other items in the bill were not specially objected to.

Judgment affirmed.