Bowles v. Culhane, 8835.

Decision Date22 October 1945
Docket NumberNo. 8835.,8835.
Citation151 F.2d 504
PartiesBOWLES, Price Administrator, v. CULHANE.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit

John R. Montgomery and Louis E. Hart, both of Chicago, Ill., for appellant.

Fleming James, Jr., and Albert M. Dreyer, both of Washington, D. C., and Harry E. Witherell and Julius Copeland, both of Chicago, Ill., for appellee.

Before EVANS, MAJOR, and KERNER, Circuit Judges.

EVANS, Circuit Judge.

Defendant was sued by the Office of Price Administration for treble damages for alleged violation of the Maximum Price Regulation No. 193, in the sale of whiskey. Defendant filed an affidavit of prejudice which the Court held to be insufficient. The Government's motion to quash the defendant's affidavit of prejudice was granted. This appeal followed the entry of the order refusing to grant a change of venue.

While two questions are presented: (a) The sufficiency of the affidavit alleging prejudice, and (b) the appealability of the order overruling the motion for change of venue based on the alleged prejudice, we will consider only the second dispute. In other words, if the order is not appealable, we must dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. If so, we can not pass upon the merits of the defendant's motion.

Unquestionably, Circuit Courts of Appeals have limited jurisdiction on appeal. With exceptions not here material, Circuit Courts of Appeals may review final decisions only. 28 U.S.C.A. § 225.

Is an order denying a motion for a change of venue a "final decision"?

Serious as it may be to the defendant to be compelled to proceed, perhaps in vain, to a costly trial should his contention that the affidavit of prejudice divests the District Court of jurisdiction be later upheld, it is not, we think, within our limited statutory jurisdiction to pass on the question at any preliminary stage of the proceeding. Defendant must reach a final decision in the trial before he can secure a review of the alleged error which occurred in refusing him a change of venue. Ex parte American Steel Barrel Co., 230 U.S. 35, 33 S.Ct. 1007, 57 L.Ed. 1379; Skirvin v. Mesta, 10 Cir. 141 F.2d 668; Baltuff v. United States, 9 Cir., 35 F.2d 507; McColgan v. Lineker, 9 Cir., 289 F. 253.

The appeal is dismissed for want of jurisdiction on our part to entertain it.

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2 cases
  • Riverbank Laboratories v. Hardwood Products Corp.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • April 12, 1955
    ...motion to dismiss the action because of improper venue is interlocutory and would not be appealable if considered alone. Bowles v. Culhane, 7 Cir., 151 F.2d 504, 505. However, this court has jurisdiction of the appeal from the preliminary injunction, Title 28 U.S.C. § 1292. In reviewing the......
  • In re Chicago Rapid Transit Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • January 13, 1953
    ...to and assigned as error when the case finally came under the reviewing power of an appellate tribunal." Likewise, in Bowles v. Culhane, 7 Cir., 151 F.2d 504, 505, this court stated: "Defendant must reach a final decision in the trial before he can secure a review of the alleged error which......

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