Wilfert v. Peters

TYLER, P. J. Action for malpractice. Plaintiff alleged negligence of respondent in the treatment of his left foot and that by reason thereof he lost his leg. Respondent denied the alleged negligence and as an affirmative defense set up contributory negligence of the plaintiff. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant. Judgment followed accordingly. Plaintiff moved for a new trial, which was denied. Respondent now moves to dismiss the appeal or affirm the judgment. The motion to dismiss is based upon the ground that no proper transcript of the record on appeal has been filed as required by law; that all proceedings to prepare a transcript have been terminated by order of the superior court. The ground upon which the motion to affirm the judgment is based is that the appeal is frivolous, and the questions raised are so unsubstantial as not to need further argument. The question as to whether or not a duly certified reporter’s transcript is [3]on file with the clerk of this court presents a confusing situation. This confusion arises from the fact that the judge who tried the case certified to a reporter’s transcript after having, so it is claimed, disqualified himself, and at a time when a motion was pending before another judge for an order terminating proceedings for the preparation of a transcript, which motion was granted after the trial court had certified to the transcript.

The facts as they appear from the record show that Hon. W. T. O’Donnell, Judge of the Superior Court of Solano County, was assigned by the Judicial Council to sit as a judge of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County beginning January 2, 1933, and thereafter to act until all matters heard by him were completed and disposed of, and also for the purpose of hearing and determining any motion after judgment in a case decided by him. Under this assignment Judge O’Donnell heard and took under advisement a motion of respondent in the instant case to terminate proceedings for the preparation of a transcript. Thereafter the attorneys for plaintiff filed with the clerk of the court, and gave notice to the attorneys for defendant, that such transcript would be presented to Judge McKenzie, the judge who tried the cause, for his approval. The attorneys for defendant appeared at the time and place set for the hearing and objected to the certification of the transcript upon the grounds that Judge McKenzie had disqualified himself, and there was pending and undecided and under submission to Judge 0 ’Donnell a motion to terminate proceedings for the settlement of a transcript. Judge McKenzie overruled the objections and made an order certifying to the transcript which is on file in this court. Notwithstanding this fact Judge O’Donnell subsequently made an order terminating the proceedings for the preparation of a transcript. In support of the motion to dismiss for the reason no proper transcript is on file herein, respondent has filed an affidavit to the effect that Judge McKenzie at a former hearing had stated he felt disqualified to hear the motion for the settlement of a transcript, and that a judge of another county would be called in to hear and determine the same. That Judge McKenzie had so expressed himself at any time is vigorously denied by the attorneys for appellant by affidavit and upon the hearing of the motion to