Opinion
Hearing Granted by Supreme Court June 24, 1929
Appeals from Superior Court, Los Angeles County; Walter S. Gates, Judge.
Action on surety bond by G.L. Moye against the National Surety Company. Judgment for defendant, and plaintiff appeals. On motion to dismiss appeal. Motion granted, and appeal dismissed.
COUNSEL
Joseph H. Call and Wm. G. Allen, both of Los Angeles, for appellant.
Bailie, Turner & Lake, of Los Angeles, for respondent.
OPINION
HOUSER, J.
On motion to dismiss appeal. There are two judgments of the superior court, and two appeals, in form; but, in substance, they are one judgment and one appeal, and will be so considered for the purposes of this decision.
The action upon which the proceeding before this court is predicated was upon a bond executed and delivered within the city of Los Angeles. Plaintiff originally filed a complaint in the county of Ventura. On motion presented by defendant to the superior court of that county, the place of trial was changed from Ventura county to the municipal court of the city of Los Angeles, in which court a trial resulted in judgment for plaintiff. On appeal to the superior court of the county of Los Angeles from the judgment, and from an order made after judgment, the judgment and order of the municipal court were reversed, and the case was remanded to the municipal court with directions to enter a new judgment in favor of the defendant and against plaintiff. From the judgment in the superior court plaintiff has appealed to this court, and the present proceeding is a motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that this court is without jurisdiction to entertain or act upon the appeal attempted to be taken.
It is contended by the defendant that, under the provisions of sections 4b and 5 of article 6 of the Constitution as amended in 1928, this court has no jurisdiction of the appeal. In resisting the motion to dismiss the appeal, plaintiff urges that, inasmuch as the cause of action was "transitory," the superior court of Ventura county had jurisdiction thereof. The argument seems to be that, as he would have had a right of appeal to this court from a judgment of the superior court of Ventura county, if a judgment had been rendered against him in that court, he has a right of appeal to this court from the judgment when rendered against him by any other court to which the cause was transferred. We fail to see that any such conclusion follows. The action having been transferred to the municipal court, the right of appeal from its judgment was in no respect different from the right to appeal from any other judgment of that court.
Plaintiff also maintains that section 4b of article 6 of the Constitution is violative of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees "to each person the equal protection of the laws." In principle, the case of Missouri v. Lewis, 101 U.S. 22, 25 L.Ed. 989, is decisive of the point against plaintiff’s contention. See, also, Hayes v. Missouri, 120 U.S. 68, 7 S.Ct. 350, 30 L.Ed. 578; Zikos v. Oregon R. & N. Co. (C.C.) 179 F. 893.
Finally, plaintiff urges that, because at the time the action was commenced (which was prior to the adoption of the constitutional amendment to which reference has been had) he had a right of appeal to this court, such right could not be taken from him by subsequent legislative or constitutional enactment. However, aside from other considerations, it is clear that, so far as the instant matter is concerned, as the constitutional amendment in question related to a change in remedy only, the point advanced by appellant is not well taken. People v. Bank of San Luis Obispo, 159 Cal. 65, 112 P. 866, 37 L.R.A. (N.S.) 934, Ann.Cas.1912B, 1148; Pacific Gas Radiator Co. v. Superior Court, 70 Cal.App. 200, 232 P. 995.
On authority of the provisions contained in sections 4b and 5 of article 6 of the Constitution, as well as the authorities to which reference has been had herein, it is ordered that the motion to dismiss the appeals be, and it is, granted, and the appeals are dismissed.
We concur: CONREY, P.J.; YORK, J.