Blackville v. Willoughby
Blackville v. Willoughby
Opinion of the Court
We are here concerned with the provisions of Rule 13(a) of the trial court as they relate to the instant litigation.
Appellee answered denying liability under either count and affirmatively pleaded that under the provisions of Rule 13(a) appellant was required to litigate the foregoing claims against appellee in C. A. No. M 32774-57, Municipal Court, wherein appel-lee, on October 31, 1957, had sued appellant for the agreed contract price for the same dental services described in the present litigation and had secured judgment against him.
This case came on fpr trial before a jury; according to the record, at its outset, the court sua sponte raised the question of “the application of Rule 13(a) of the Municipal Court Rules covering the filing of compulsory counterclaims and the doctrine of res judicata.” After hearing arguments on the question it “found that the plaintiff [appellant] was barred by application of said rule, and doctrine of res judicata, in that the claim set forth in the present complaint was required to be included in a compulsory counterclaim in the original suit filed by the defendant [appellee] on October 31, 1957 * * It accordingly directed a verdict for appellee; judgment for him was thereafter rendered and this appeal followed.
The record seems to clearly indicate that appellant knew of certain defects in the dental work at the time he was served with process in the prior suit; it is not clear, however, as to when he learned of the bone splinter in his gum. We feel that before the court applied Rule 13(a) and the doctrine of res judicata, testimony and a finding should have been made on this facet of the case.
Reversed with instructions to grant a new trial.
. “Compulsory Counterclaims. A pleading shall state as a counterclaim any claim, over which the court has jurisdiction, which at the time of serving the pleading the pleader has against any opposing party, if it arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the opposing party’s claim * * (Emphasis supplied.)
. In the prior suit appellant was personally served; he did not appear nor answer and a default judgment was entered against Mm on November 27, 1957.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John W. BLACKVILLE v. Winston C. WILLOUGHBY
- Status
- Published