Merced Mining Co. v. Fremont

Burnett, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court—Terry, J., concurring.

On the hearing of this motion, the plaintiffs’ counsel made these six points:

“ First, that the stay of proceedings granted or effected by an appeal is only, as to further proceedings, working a change in the relative positions of the parties, and the property affected by the action after appeal taken. Second, that the appeal is taken only from the order granting the injunction, and not from the injunction itself, which remains in force until dissolved by the Appellate Court. Third, that if an appeal acts as a supersedeas to the injunction, the injunction, as a remedy, is in effect abolished. Fourth, that the District Judge had no discretion to grant or re *132 fuse the order for an attachment for the contempt, but was bound in law to issue it. Fifth, that a mandamus will lie to compel him to do so, his refusal not being the exercise of a discretionary power, and there being no other adequate remedy. Sixth, that the writ of mandamus will lie to compel a Judge to punish a contempt, when the rights of parties are involved.”

The first question raised by the facts of this case is this : Did the appeal supersede the effect of the injunction ? or, did the injunction remain in full force pending the proceedings on appeal?

The stay of proceedings, pending an appeal, has the legitimate effect of keeping them in the condition in which they were when the stay of proceedings was granted; it operates so as to prevent any future change in the condition of the parties. This would seem evident from the scope of the provisions of chapter 2, title IX, of our Practice Act. To render an appeal effectual for any purpose, in any case, the undertaking or deposit must be given, or made as provided in section three hundred and forty-eight. In sections three hundred and forty-nine to three hundred and fifty-two, inclusive, a stay is granted by executing another and different undertaking. In the three hundred and fifty-sixth section, it is provided, that incases not provided for in the sections above, the giving the undertaking, or making the deposit named in section three hundred and forty-eight, shall stay proceedings in the Court below, upon the judgment or order appealed from.

The language of this three hundred and fifty-sixth section is general, and would at first seem to include the appeal from an order granting an injunction; but, upon an examination of the provisions of sections three hundred and forty-nine to three hundred and fifty-two, inclusive, it will be seen, that in all those cases the party is required by the judgment or order to do some affirmative act, not to refrain from doing a thing. This act, if completed, would change the condition of the parties, and render a reversal of the judgment in the Supreme Court partially ineffectual. But when a party is restrained by injunction, he is not injured in contemplation of law, as he is already secured by the undertaking. If, on the contrary, an appeal, with an undertaking of three hundred dollars, would have the effect of staying the injunction itself, then the plaintiff would have no remedy, and the writ be idle. It would entirely destroy the usefulness of this writ. A stay of proceedings, from its nature, only operates upon orders or judgments commanding some act to be done, and does not reach a case of injunction.

That the distinction between cases mandatory and prohibitory is correct, may bo seen from the exception to section three hundred and fifty-six. If, then, the injunction remained in full force, had the Judge any discretion to issue or not to issue the attach *133 ment ? and if he had no discretion, but his duty was positive, is a mandamus the proper remedy ?

It would seem clear, that if the injunction was not affected by the appeal, there must be some remedy for its violation pending an appeal; for if there be no remedy for the wrong, the right injured does not exist. No right can exist, in contemplation of law, that cannot be injured, and there can be no injury without a remedy. Where, then, can this remedy be found, but in the District Court ? That Court must protect the parties in their substantial rights.

As to the other question, whether the remedy is by mandamus or appeal, we think there can be but little doubt. The remedy by appeal is too slow, and is not adequate. The duty to be performed is fixed by law, and certain. As to how that duty is to be performed, this Court will not direct. All we can do by this writ, is to direct the Judge to exercise his discretion in inquiring into the acts charged, and rendering his decision upon them. The decisions of this Court have fully settled some of these points. 3 Cal. R., 167; 4 Cal. R., 177; 2 Cal., 245 .

It was urged, upon the hearing of the motion, that a mandamus would not lie from this Court to an inferior Court, in a case of contempt. It is true that the proceeding is, in form, a case of contempt, while it is, in substance, a private right. The law regards the substance more than the form. From the very nature and necessity of the case, the proceeding is designed to secure the rights of the party; this is his only remedy. It is always upon his application that the action of the Court is invoked.

Motion sustained.