Curnutt v. Holk

California Courts of Appeal
Curnutt v. Holk, 203 Cal. App. 2d 6 (1962)
21 Cal. Rptr. 224; 1962 Cal. App. LEXIS 2327
Files

Curnutt v. Holk

Opinion

FILES, J.

Plaintiff has attempted to appeal from an order sustaining a demurrer to the complaint without leave to amend. That order is not appealable. (Cole v. Rush, 40 Cal.2d 178 [252 P.2d 1].) A notice of appeal from such a nonappealable order may be liberally construed as an appeal from the judgment if there is a judgment. (Evola v. Wendt Construction Co., 158 Cal.App.2d 658 [323 P.2d 158]; Smith v. Smith, 126 Cal.App.2d 194 [272 P.2d 118] ; Crane v. Livingston, 98 Cal.App.2d 699 [220 P.2d 744].) The record here contains a document signed by the trial judge entitled “Order Sustaining Demurrer” which orders that “the above action be and the same is hereby dismissed.” This document would constitute a judgment if entered in the judgment book, but the record shows no such entry. “In no case is a judgment effectual for any purpose until entered.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 664.) Prior to entry there is no assurance that the trial judge may not reconsider his decision. (Phillips v. Phillips, 41 Cal.2d 869, 874 [264 P.2d 926]; Adoption of Bird, 183 Cal.App.2d 140, 144 [6 Cal.Rptr. 675].)

The appeal is dismissed.

Shinn, P. J., and Ford, J., concurred.

Reference

Full Case Name
JAMES L. CURNUTT, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. HERBERT C. HOLK, Defendant and Respondent
Cited By
14 cases
Status
Published