Shelby v. Charlotte Electric Railway, Light & Power Co.
Shelby v. Charlotte Electric Railway, Light & Power Co.
Opinion of the Court
The defendant pleaded in its answer two separate and distinct defenses. The plaintiff demurred to one of them, as he had a right to do. Revisal, sec. 435. The demurrer was overruled, and the defendant appealed. This is obnoxious to the rule forbidding .fragmentary appeals. An appeal from a ruling upon one of several issues will be dismissed. Hines v. Hines, 84 N. C., 122; Arrington v. Arrington, 91 N. C., 301.
The plaintiff should have noted his exception and the Judge should have proceeded with 'the trial upon both issues. If both issues or only the issue as to this defense were found with
If this demurrer to one defense had been sustained a different situation would be presented and an appeal would lie at once, for to try the 'case on one defense might cause a verdict and judgment against the defendant, which might be defeated if the other defense were passed on.' That would ‘'affect a substantial right,” and hence an appeal lies. Re-visal, sec. 581. Whereas no harm would result from trying both defenses on issues as to each, since the exception to submitting this issue can be reviewed in passing upon the appeal from the final judgment. Judgment- on appeal could then be entered without requiring a new trial.
It is true that when a demurrer to the whole cause of action or the whole defense is either overruled or sustained an appeal lies. Commissioners v. Magnin, 78 N. C., 181; Ramsay v. Railroad, 91 N. C., 418; Frisby v. Marshall, 119 N. C., 570; Clark v. Peebles, 122 N. C., 163. Such appeal is not fragmentary, but affects the entire action. Indeed, in Commissioners v. Magnin, supra, the Court questioned whether an,
Hence, fragmentary appeals like this, and premature appeals and appeals from interlocutory judgments, usually are not tolerated. It can prejudice neither party to have the issue as to the second defense found by the jury (plaintiff’s exception being noted) at the same time the issue as to the' other defense is found. With all the parties before the court and the facts fully brought out, a correct conclusion is more likely to be reached by both Judge and jury. •
Appeal Dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- W. H. SHELBY v. CHARLOTTE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published