James v. Superior Court

Sharpstein, J. — Application for a writ of mandate to compel the respondent to settle a statement on motion for new trial in a probate proceeding.

It does not appear from the petition for the writ that the action was tried by a jury, nor is there a decision by the court. The proceeding, so far as any appears to have been had, was under chapter iii., article v., of the Code of Civil Procedure. By the allegations of the parties, certain issues of fact were raised, and the court, of its own motion, submitted two of them to a jury, which was impaneled for that purpose, and the jury found upon t-hese issues, and was discharged. The court took no further action in the matter, and the case has not been decided.

The verdict of the jury in this proceeding is not the verdict of the jury in an action tried by a jury, within the meaning of section 659 of the Code of Civil Procedure, but was merely advisory to the judge, and of no force or effect until adopted by him.

In that state of the case, we think the notice of intention to move for a new trial and the presentation of the statement for settlement were premature.

Application denied.

Beatty, C. J., McFarland, J., Works, J., Thornton, J., and Paterson, J., concurred.