Ex Parte Margart , 207 Ala. 604 ( 1922 )

On May 2, 1921, Mrs. A. M. Margart obtained judgment against W. H. Foy and others in the circuit court of Barbour county. On May 4, 1921, the defendants filed in writing in the court a motion for new trial, and it was called to the attention of the court, and the attorney for the plaintiff accepted notice of the filing of the motion. No order was entered by the court continuing it for hearing to a future day.

Before the expiration of the 30 days from the filing of the motion, the attorney for defendant, on May 11, 1921, made application by telephone to the judge of the court to continue the motion, and the judge stated to the attorney for the defendant that the motion was continued until June 15, 1921. Neither plaintiff nor her attorney had notice of such continuance. This order of continuance was not entered in the record at the time. On June 15, 1921, the attorney for defendants again applied to the judge of the court for another continuance of the motion; and the judge of the court "stated to the attorney making such request for such continuance that the hearing of said motion was continued until October 31, 1921." The defendants' attorney was then sick in a hospital. Neither plaintiff nor her attorney had notice of such continuance. This order of continuance was oral, and not entered in the record at the time. On October 31, 1921, formal orders were entered in writing in the record: One dated May 11, 1921, continuing the motion until June 15, 1921; one dated June 15, 1921, continuing the motion until October 31, 1921; and one dated October 31, 1921, denying the motion. All three of these orders were entered in writing by the judge in the record, and signed by him on October 31, 1921. Neither the plaintiff nor her attorney was present in court when said orders were entered on October 31, 1921, and they had no notice of them. The plaintiff, Mrs. Margart, makes application for writ of mandamus to require the judge of that court to set aside the judgment and orders of continuance entered on the motion, and to require him to enter an order discontinuing the motion.

Was the motion for new trial filed by the defendants discontinued before the final order, refusing the motion, was made by the court on October 31, 1921? There was in the minutes a "general order for the continuance of all such causes and matters as are not specifically marked continued." This court, in Mt. Vernon W. Mills v. Judges, 200 Ala. 168, 75 So. 916, held:

"Nor will a general order continuing all causes and motions not otherwise disposed of suffice to keep such a motion alive."

Section 3 of the act of September 22, 1915 (Acts 1915, p. 708), applicable, reads:

"After the lapse of thirty days from the date on which a judgment or decree was rendered the court shall lose all power over it, as completely as if the end of the term had been on that day, unless a motion to set aside the judgment or decree, or grant a new trial has been filed and called to the attention of the court, and an order entered continuing it for hearing to a future day."

This statute contemplates and requires that a motion for a new trial must be filed, and it must be called to the attention of the court and the court must enter an order continuing it for hearing to a future day; all to be done within thirty days after the date of judgment. These things must be done to prevent the court from losing all power over it. The day set for the hearing may be more or less than thirty days after the date of the judgment, and the hearing may be continued by the court from time to time by proper orders. Mt. Vernon W. Mills v. Judges, 200 Ala. 168, 75 So. 916.

What is the meaning of these words: "An order entered continuing it for hearing to a future day"? In the connection used they mean, when put into practical effect, that the court, after the motion is filed and called to its attention, must, within 30 days after the date of the judgment, by an order entered in the minutes of the court or by an order entered on the motion docket or by an order entered in writing filed in the cause, continue the motion for hearing to a future day. "An order entered continuing it for hearing to a future day" does not mean an oral statement made by the judge (not in open court) continuing it for hearing to a future day. If the order of continuance of the motion for hearing to a future day is made orally by the court or the judge of the court, when or after the motion is called to his attention, then such oral order must, within 30 days after the date of the judgment, be entered in the minutes of the court or be entered in writing on the motion docket, or entered in writing and filed in the cause. If the motion is heard and granted or refused by the court, and judgment entered thereon within 30 days after the date of the judgment, this obviates any necessity for the record to show an order entered continuing the hearing to a future day, as the court has control of the judgment for 30 days after it is rendered.

Within 30 days after the judgment was rendered, a motion for a new trial was made, filed in the cause by defendant, and it was called to the attention of the court, and plaintiff accepted notice of it; but no order was entered of record by the court within 30 days after the date of the judgment, continuing it for hearing to a future day. The judgment was obtained May 2, 1921; the motion was filed May 4, 1921; the judge stated orally to defendants' attorney on May 11, 1921, that the motion was continued to June 15, 1921, and on June 15, 1921, the judge stated orally to the attorney for the defendants that the motion was continued to October 31, 1921. Neither the plaintiff nor her attorney knew of these oral continuances of the motion. Court adjourned at midnight on June 25, 1921, by operation of law. Section 1, Act approved September 22, 1915 (Gen. Acts 1915, p. 707). There was nothing in the record when the court finally adjourned showing affirmatively these oral continuances of the motion. The motion was on October 31, 1921, without the presence or knowledge of plaintiff or her attorney, refused, and the two oral orders of continuance were put in writing that day on the record. This was too late. The court had lost control of the motion. It had been discontinued. No order was entered as the statute requires, within 30 days after the date of the judgment, continuing the motion for hearing to a future day. The court had on June 25, 1921, finally adjourned by operation of law, without the record affirmatively showing a compliance with the statute by proper orders of continuance of the motion being entered. The court had no authority then (October 31, 1921), without the consent of the parties, to enter of record the two oral continuances of the motion, and to pass on the motion. Sections 1 and 3, Acts 1915, pp. 707, 708; Shipp v. Shelton,193 Ala. 658, 69 So. 102; So. Ry. Co. v. Griffith, 177 Ala. 364,58 So. 425; Mt. Vernon W. Mills v. Judges, 200 Ala. 168,75 So. 916.

Should the judge of the circuit court, when informed of this opinion, fail to set aside the three orders made on the motion, two continuing it, made by him in writing on October 31, 1921, and dated respectively May 11, 1921, and June 15, 1921, and the order refusing the motion dated October 31, 1921, then let the writ of mandamus issue according to the prayer of the petition.

Writ granted.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and GARDNER, JJ., concur.

On Rehearing.