First Nat. Bank v. Morrow

The cause is submitted upon motion to strike the bill of exceptions, and also upon its merits.

Appellant has assigned as error (1) the rendition of the original judgment; (2) the refusal to it of the affirmative charge; and (3) overruling its motion for a new trial, thus presenting for our consideration no rulings upon the pleadings, and presenting questions solvable only by what appears in the bill of exceptions.

The transcript shows the original judgment was rendered October 13, 1921, and that the bill of exceptions was not presented to the trial judge until March 3, 1922, more than 90 days thereafter. This was too late. Code 1907, § 3019. Wrenn v. Baker, 15 Ala. App. 434, 73 So. 756; Boss Livery Co. v. Bailey, 17 Ala. App. 418, 85 So. 572, and the bill of exceptions cannot be considered for the purpose of reviewing rulings upon the main trial. Assignments of error 1 and 2 are thus eliminated.

It further appears the motion for a new trial was on November 8th first "presented" to the trial judge as shown by his indorsement thereon, or "filed with the court" as shown by recitals in the bill itself.

Notwithstanding the earnest insistence of the appellee, we are of the opinion that this recital is a sufficient proper filing of the motion within the time required by law.

The motion thus filed on November 8th was overruled on December 7, 1921, long after the expiration of 30 days from the judgment. Within the 30 days the court's power over its judgment continued. Acts 1915, p. 708, § 3.

After the lapse of 30 days from the rendition of the judgment, the court was powerless to set aside the same, unless upon proper motion kept alive by formal orders. Acts 1915, p. 708, § 3; Ex parte Margart, 207 Ala. 604, 93 So. 505; Ala. S. W. Co. v. Sells, 168 Ala. 547, 52 So. 921.

The record is silent as to any order having been made with reference to the motion between its filing and the overruling thereof, and hence, at the time it was overruled, the motion had become functus officio, and it would have been erroneous to grant the same, however meritorious it may have been.

Affirmed.