Wiebold v. Rauer

Paterson, J. This is an application for an order permitting appellants to substitute undertakings in place of the money deposited in the court below in lieu of undertakings on appeal.

"Undertakings were filed in the court below in due time after notice of appeal, but exception was taken by respondents to the sufficiency of the sureties therein. [419]On the day fixed for the justification of the sureties, the latter failed to appear before the judge of the court below. Thereafter, and in due time, the appellant deposited the amount of the judgment appealed from, and three hundred dollars in addition thereto, which, under section 948 of the Code of Civil Procedure, was equivalent to the giving of sufficient undertakings.

The petitioner has presented to this court undertakings in due form, and asks to have the same approved and filed, and to be allowed to withdraw the money deposited in the court below.

The statute gives an appellant the right to perfect his appeal and secure a stay of proceedings on the judgment, either by giving certain undertakings, or by depositing in the court below the amount of the judgment appealed from, and three hundred dollars in addition thereto. The appellant chose the latter proceeding, and by depositing in the court below the sum required by the statute perfected his appeal. There is no statutory authority for the order which he now requests the court to make; but assuming that the court has the discretion to allow him to withdraw his deposit and give a new undertaking, we have no .disposition to exercise that discretion in his favor. The court is already heavily burdened with multifarious original proceedings not usually imposed upon appellate courts, and we have no desire to increase them by establishing a precedent for another, and especially one a denial of which affects no substantial right of either party to the appeal. If the motion were granted and a new undertaking were filed here, the respondent might be compelled to again examine into the question of the sufficiency of the sureties on the undertaking, give notice of exception, and to appear before the judge at the time and place of justification. This would be manifestly^ unjust to ,him. The appellant has made his choice of procedure, and having had the benefit of it, should not now be allowed to retract and file undertakings. The only prejudice he can suffer by a [420]