Curtis v. Zutavern
Curtis v. Zutavern
Opinion of the Court
A former1 decision in this case is officially reported in 67 Neb. 183. It Avas there adjudged, after a full recital and consideration of the pleadings and evidence, that the defendant Zutavern was estopped by the decree in partition and by the recitals of the bond in suit from claiming more than three-ninths of the land in controversy, including, of course, the reversionary title to the fund set apart for the guaranteeing of the dower estate, and represented by the bond; and the cause was remanded for further pro
There was, however, a new trial in the district court upon the same pleadings as formerly, in the course of which evidence was produced, and inquiries were gone into, tending to impeach the decree in partition by showing that it was mistakenly or inadvertently procured, and that it is inequitable and unjust to the extent of two-ninths of the fund, one each of which was represented by Henry Cannon and Smith Cannon. This investigation, which was conducted in spite of the protest of the plaintiffs who insisted upon a judgment pursuant to the decision of this court, resulted in a judgment in their favor for three-ninths instead of five-ninths of the fund, one-ninth thereof, represented by Patience Curtis, having been voluntarily relinquished. How this result Avas reached is not to our minds entirely clear, but it is evident that it Avas by the consideration of matters of controversy merged in and foreclosed by the estoppels above mentioned, and AAiiich are, therefore, no longer proper subjects of judicial discussion. It is the established and necessary practice of this court that issues of law definitely decided upon error or appeal, cannot be relitigated in the distinct court in a subsequent trial of the same case. It is therefore recommended that the judgment of the district court be reversed, and that the cause be remanded, with instructions to ascertain five-ninths of the fund in controversy and render judgment therefor in conformity to the former opinion of this court.
By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, it is ordered that the judgment of the district
Reversed.
070rehearing
The following opinion on rehearing was filed May 3, 1905. Judgment of reversal adhered to:
A rehearing was granted in this case for a further examination of the questions decided by this court at its first hearing in the opinion delivered by Hastings, 0., and reported in 67 Neb. 183.
It is contended by counsel for defendants in error that the effect of this opinion was to reverse and remand the former judgment of the district court for a new trial of all the issues in that court; and it is contended on the other hand by counsel for plaintiffs in error that the effect of this decision Avas a final determination from the evidence that defendant Zutavern Avas the OAvner of three-ninths of the reversion of the doAver interest in controversy, and no more, and that the court erred in permitting a trial of the issues that had been finally determined on the suit in partition on which the right to maintain this action aatis founded.
A careful review of the opinion delivered by Hastings, C., supra, shoAvs that the questions therein finally determined are that defendant Zutavern and his sureties are estopped from denying the recitals in the bond sued upon; that at the time the bond was entered into Zutavern claimed no interest except the doAver and three-ninths of the reversion in the dower right; and that the partition decree is conclusive on Zutavern as to his holding any other right or claim in the land at the time the decree was entered, and that the only right that Zutavern claims to have acquired since the decree in partition is an additional
βIt having been concluded that Zutavern is estopped by the decree and the bond given under it from claiming more than three-ninths of this land, it follows that the other parties to that action, who were makers of these deeds, are also estopped. ' It must be held, as to them, conclusive that at the time of the partition proceedings Zutavern held absolutely the doAver interest and the three-ninths of the fee title. He therefore must be allowed to have that three-ninths of the reversion of this fund Avhieh is derived from the sale of his three-ninths of the land. It is believed, therefore*., that the heirs of Bluford Cannon are entitled to recove]* six-ninths of this fund by their joint action, unless Patience Curtis is found to have assigned to Zutavern her original one-ninth of it; that the one-ninth of it belonging to Charles Henry Cannon in his lifetime, if he is dead Avithout leaving a will, should go to the plaintiffs jointly; and that Benjamin Cannon, Katie Jones and Cora Jones should receive their portion of this one-ninth. As to Patience Curtis, the question of Avhether or not she has assigned her-reversionary interest to Zutavern since the partion proceedings should be determined.β
As Ave are compelled to view this opinion, it left but one question to be determined oh a rehearing of the cause, and that was the question as to whether or not Patience Curtis had assigned her reversionary interest to Zutavern after the partition proceedings had been determined. This was the vieAv of the case taken by Mr. Commissioner Ames
By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the former opinion is adhered to.
Reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.