Elderkin v. Wiswell , 61 Wis. 498 ( 1884 )

OetoN, J.

This was an appeal to the circuit court from the judgment of the justice dismissing the action and for costs against the plaintiff of $2.44. The circuit court dismissed the appeal, and rendered judgment for costs against the plaintiff. From that judgment an appeal is taken to this court. The justice returned the fact that the defendant was his son-in-law when he rendered the judgment. This fact appearing, it was the duty of the justice to have transmitted “the action, and all the papers appertaining to the same, to some other justice of the same county,” according to sec. 3617, E. S. He had no jurisdiction to make any other disposition of the case. Eather-in-law and son-in-law are “near of kin,” within that section, and the justice knew of this relationship when the action was commenced, and this knowledge disqualified him. Hibbard v. Odell, 16 Wis. 633. His judgment in the case was therefore void.

The circuit court dismissed the ■ appeal at the first term after the return of the justice was filed, for want of prosecution and because the plaintiff did not appear when the cause was called for trial. This was erroneous. The statute provides when an appeal may be dismissed for want óf prosecution. The appellant has to the end of the second term after the return of the justice, to bring his appeal to a hearing in the appellate court. Sec. 3766, E. S. It .is error to dismiss his appeal for such cause before that time. Webster v. School District, 16 Wis. 316. If the circuit court had authority to do anything with the case on the nonappearance of the plaintiff at the first term, after the return, when it was called for trial, it could only discontinue the action. Haner v. Polk, 6 Wis. 350. The judgment dismissing the appeal, and for costs, must be reversed. This may, in form, leave the cause pending in the circuit court for hearing on the record. But inasmuch as the case was brought to the attention of the court, and it appearing by the return of the justice that he rendered judgment, not having jurisdiction, of the cause on account of his relationship to the defendant, and that such judgment was therefore void, it was the duty of the court to have reversed it at once. The case may as well be fully disposed of on this appeal.

By the Court. — ■ The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded with direction to reverse the judgment of the justice.