Furman v. Furman

Generally, a plaintiff has an absolute right to discontinue an action at any time before judgment, or before a case has been submitted to tbe jury. To tbis general rule there are some exceptions, under our peculiar system of practice. After a j udgment lias been entered, however, a plaintiff can discontinue bis action only by tbe permission of tbe court, and, on an application for that purpose, tbe court grants or refuses such application in its discretion in full view of tbe equities and rights of tbe parties, and on such terms as are just.

Now this is an action for partition of real estate, and a judgment has resulted for a sale of tbe premises under which they are advertised for sale, and tbe plaintiff has made a motion for leave to discontinue. His position is that himself and bis sisters have been *442misled by their father, and that he never intended to have a sale of the property. That his father represented to him that it was desir-, able to have it placed in a.position in which it- could be sold at a proper time, and that to this end it was necessary to commence this action in his name. That he consented in that view and for that purpose oniy. That he paid no attention to the action, but left the same to his father until he was surprised to' find the whole property advertised for sale. The father denies this, and says the plaintiff fully understood the matter from the beginning.

There is enough in the papers to show that there has been considerable misunderstanding on the part of the plaintiff, and without deciding where any censure ought to rest, there is no reason why he should how be forced on with this action. ■ No one has acquired any rights by it which will be lost by its discontinuance, and the plaintiff now thinks it will be prejudicial to his interest to proceed in it any further. Two of his sisters think the same 'with reference to their interest. The only person who desires to have the action proceed is the life tenant, and he is a defendant, and his wishes ought not to prevail to the prejudice of the remainder-men. The property seems to be large and valuable, and the parties in ultimate interest ought to control its eventual disposition. This they wish to do by allowing it to remain for the present as it is and unsold. In the present depressed state of the real estate market this is doubtless wise, and even if the plaintiff did commence the action of his own volition, he ought to be permitted to discontinue the same on payment of all costs and expenses.

Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.

Order affirmed, with costs and disbursements.