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Rule 62 – Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment

May 14, 2021 | Civil Procedure, South Carolina

(a) Automatic Stay; Exceptions–Injunctions, Receivership, and Accountings. Except as stated herein, no execution shall issue upon a judgment nor shall proceedings be taken for its enforcement until the expiration of 10 days after its entry. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, an interlocutory or final judgment in an action for an injunction or in a receivership action, or a judgment or order directing an accounting, shall not be stayed during the period after its entry and until an appeal is taken or during the pendency of an appeal. The provisions of subdivision (c) of this rule govern the suspending, modifying, restoring, or granting of an injunction during the pendency of an appeal.
(b) Stay on Motion for New Trial or for Judgment. In its discretion and on such conditions for the security of the adverse party as are proper, the court may stay the execution of or any proceedings to enforce a judgment pending the disposition of a motion for a new trial or to alter or amend a judgment made pursuant to Rule 59, or of a motion for relief from a judgment or order made pursuant to Rule 60, or of a motion for judgment in accordance with a motion for a directed verdict made pursuant to Rule 50, or of a motion for amendment to the findings or for additional findings made pursuant to Rule 52(b).
(c) Injunction Pending Appeal. When an appeal is taken from an interlocutory or final judgment granting, dissolving, or denying an injunction, the court in its discretion may suspend, modify, restore, or grant an injunction during the pendency of the appeal upon such terms as to bond or otherwise as it considers proper for the security of the rights of the adverse party.
(d) Stay Upon Appeal. When an appeal is taken, a party, by giving a supersedeas bond, may obtain a stay subject to the exceptions contained in subdivision (a) of this rule and the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules. The bond may be given at or after the time of filing the notice of appeal or of procuring the order allowing the supersedeas as the case may be. The stay is effective when the supersedeas bond is approved by the court.
(e) Stay in Favor of the State or Agency Thereof. When an appeal is taken by the State or an officer or agency thereof or by direction of any department of the Government of the State and the operation or enforcement of the judgment is stayed, no bond, obligation, or other security shall be required from the appellant.
(f) Stay According to Statute. The provisions of this Rule 62 shall be considered as cumulative to and not superseding the right of any party to a stay of execution accorded by statute; except that the time limits and provision for supersedeas bond provided by this Rule 62 shall apply in all proceedings for stay of execution or order of supersedeas.
(g) Power of Appellate Court Not Limited. The provisions in this rule do not limit any power of an appellate court or of a judge or justice thereof to stay proceedings during the pendency of an appeal or to suspend, modify, restore, or grant an injunction during the pendency of an appeal or to make any order appropriate to preserve the status quo or the effectiveness of the judgment subsequently to be entered. An application for such relief should first be made to the trial court under Rule 62(c) or (d), but when such application is not practicable it may first be made to an appellate court or a judge or justice thereof.
(h) Stay of Judgment as to Multiple Claims or Multiple Parties. When a court has ordered a final judgment under the conditions stated in Rule 54(b), the court may stay enforcement of that judgment until the entering of a subsequent judgment or judgments and may prescribe such conditions as are necessary to secure the benefit thereof to the party in whose favor the judgment is entered.

S.c. R. Civ. P. 62

This Rule 62 is drawn from the Federal Rule. Rule 62(a) provides for an automatic stay of execution for 10 days in all but injunctive actions or those involving receiverships or accounting. Stays in those proceedings, as well as motions for new trial under Rule 59, for relief from judgment under Rule 60, or for judgment in accordance with a motion for directed verdict under Rule 50, or for amendment of findings under Rule 52(b) are discretionary with the court. Stays of injunctive actions or those on appeal are covered by Rule 62(c) and (d). Rule 62(h) permits stays when some, but not all, claims have been reduced to judgment under Rule 54(b). This Rule replaces Circuit Court Rules 64, 65 and 66, without substantial change. Likewise, Supreme Court Rule 18, which permits the Supreme Court in actions pending in that court to stay proceedings in the court below, is not affected because of the specific language of Rule 62(g). Note to 1990 Amendment: This amendment modifies Rule 62(d) to make reference to the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules which have replaced the Supreme Court Rules.