Cresta v. Ocean Shore R. R. Co. ( 1922 )

NOURSE, J.

This is an appeal from an order denying plaintiffs’ motion to vacate the findings, conclusions of law, and decree in favor of defendant in an action to quiet title under the MeEnerney Act. Judgment was entered on October 28, 1919, in favor of plaintiffs as to a portion of the property involved in the action and in favor of defendant as to a strip of land running through the property and used by defendant as a right of way for its railroad. A fee-simple title was decreed to the defendant, and plaintiffs claim that the court was without jurisdiction to award more than an easement as to an undivided one-half thereof because title thereto was obtained by a suit in condemnation for railroad purposes. Upon the hearing of the motion evidence was offered that some time after the entry of judgment the defendant, with the consent of the state Bailroad Commission, ceased to operate its road over the property in controversy.

The motion was made under section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and was based upon the grounds of plaintiffs’ excusable neglect, surprise, mistake, and inadvertence, and also upon the grounds that the findings of fact were erroneous, inconsistent, contradictory, and unintelligible. No appeal was taken from the judgment and no motion for a new trial was made.

[1] The “excusable neglect” of plaintiffs was based on the fact that their counsel was ill when the findings of fact and conclusions of law were signed and filed, and for some days thereafter. The motion was supported by affidavits and assailed by counter-affidavits, presenting a wide conflict which the trial court was required to determine. This determination was adverse to plaintiffs and is binding on this appeal unless a clear abuse of discretion is shown. An examination of the record convinces us that the trial court did not abuse that discretion.

[2] It is argued that the motion should have been granted as a matter of right, because the judgment was void on its face. The point here is that as defendant acquired part of its title through a- decree in condemnation for railroad purposes, and that for such purposes an easement only can be acquired, the court was without jurisdiction to award a fee-simple title. But this was one of the questions at issue in the trial and one which the trial court was required to determine. If it decided wrongly, plaintiffs had their remedy by appeal. If error at all, it is error committed within the jurisdiction of the court. Bespondent disputes the claim and argues that the evidence was sufficient to show fee-simple title. Whether this is so is of no eonse quence, so long as the decree itself does not disclose a want of jurisdiction.

[3] The evidence relating to the subsequent abandonment of the operation of the railroad was wholly immaterial to the questions raised by the motion for relief from the judgment under section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It was something that occurred nearly a year after the decree and could not be cited as evidence of surprise, neglect, mistake, or inadvertence on the part of plaintiffs in connection with the entry of the decree.

Judgment affirmed.

Langdon, P. J., and Sturtevant, J., concurred.

A petition to have the cause heard in the supreme court, after judgment in the district court of appeal, was denied by the supreme court on May 1, 1922.

• All the Justices concurred.

Waste, J., was absent and Richards, J., pro tem., was acting.