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82 Wis. 244

Bantley v. Stowell

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Decided May 3, 1892

Wisconsin Supreme Court · decided 1892-05-03

APPEALS from the Circuit Court for Milwaukee County. These cases all present the same question. Each is an appeal by the defendants from an order changing the place of trial of the action from the circuit court of Milwaukee county to the superior court, upon an affidavit of prejudice made by one of the defendants. The motion in each case was made after one continuance in the action <at defendants’ instance.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1924

1 state decisions

Relies on Dodge v. Barden

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1892-05-03

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Winslow, J-

¶1The statute provides that upon the filing of an affidavit of prejudice of the judge, after a continuance in an action granted upon application of the party filing such affidavit, the venue shall be changed only upon payment of the costs of making such change and the costs of the term. R. S. sec. 2625, as amended by sec. 1, ch. 806, Laws of 1881. Upon making these payments the right to a change of venue is absolute. In these cases the costs of the term are fixed at two dollars. No other item of expense can be added, save the costs of making the change, which must be the legal fees of the clerk for certifying and transmitting the papers. The court, however, in addition to these two items, required in each case $10 to be paid to the plaintiff, and denominated that sum “costs of making such change.” This was erroneous. This sum was neither a part of the costs of the term, nor a part of the costs of making the change. The defendant had a strict and absolute right to the change upon complying with the terms imposed by the statute. He was not applying for relief in a

¶2*246•matter lying within, the discretion of the court, where conditions might be imposed, nor could motion costs be imposed upon him, because he was not the defeated party. The case of Dodge v. Barden, 33 Wis. 246, has no application, because the law as then existing authorized the imposition of reasonable attorney’s fees, in the discretion of the court, in addition to the costs of the term.

¶3The appeal in each instance is from the whole order. That part of each order which directed a change of venue, and required payment of $2 costs of the term and the clerk’s fees for making the change, is correct and must be . affirmed. That part of each order which requires the payment of $10 to the plaintiff is erroneous and must be reversed. No costs will be allowed to either party. '

¶4By the Court.— It is so ordered.

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