City of Milwaukee v. Johnson

A preliminary question of procedure is presented. The city appealed from the judgment of the municipal court. The defendant contends that the action is quasi-criminal in its nature and that therefore it must be brought to this court by writ of error and not by appeal. This contention finds support in some of the earlier cases in this court. These cases hold that, where a city by ordinance prohibits that which is a crime or misdemeanor and punishable as such at common law or by statute, the action to recover the fine or penalty imposed by the ordinance is quasi-criminal in its nature and that…