Hershner v. Deibig
Hershner v. Deibig
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On the 21st day of July, 1934, the plaintiff was injured in an automobile collision. The plaintiff was riding in an automobile with her father, and Elizabeth Deibig, a minor, was operating an automobile belonging to her sister, with her sister’s knowledge and consent. At the time of the collision Elizabeth Deibig was alone in the machine which she was operating.
On the 23rd day of July, 1935, the plaintiff Florence Hershner filed her petition in the Common Pleas Court of Crawford County, Ohio, against the defendants Grace Deibig and Elizabeth Deibig seeking to recover for personal injuries received in the automobile collision. Summons was issued on the same day and served on Grace Deibig by handing her a certified copy with the indorsements thereon, and on the same day service was made upon Elizabeth Deibig by leaving for her at her usual place of residence, a true certified copy thereof with all the endorsements thereon. On October 4, 1935, a motion to make the petition more definite and certain was filed. This motion- was sustained on the 27th of November, 1935, and plaintiff was granted leave to amend her petition instanter. On the 11th day of January, 1936, an amended petition was filed. On the 31st day of January, 1936, a motion to make the amended petition more definite was filed. This
As we view it, the law as laid down in the case of Feigi v Lopart Kovich, 38 Oh Ap 338, controls the rights of the parties tc this proceeding.
The issuance of a summons must be at a time within the statutory limitations for the commencement of the action.
Under the undisputed facts of this case there was no suit commenced until September 8, 1936, against, Elizabeth Deibig as a minor. It is true that the first steps were taken in July, 1935, against Grace Deibig and Elizabeth Deibig and amended petitions were filed, .but no suit was commenced against Elizabeth Deibig as a minor, until September 8, 1936, and this is more than two years after the date of the collision. No process was issued for Elizafceth Deibig, a minor, until September 8, 1936.
The minor Elizabeth Deibig cannot waive compliance with the statute pertaining to the commencement of an action or the service of process.
We are also of the opinion that there is a misjoinder of parties defendant.
It appears from the plaintiff’s petition that Grace Deibig was the owner of the machine that Elizabeth Deibig was driving; that Grace Deibig was not present at the time Elizabeth Deibig operated the machine and injured the plaintiff, and the demurrer was properly sustained on the ground of misjoinder of parties defendant. There is no averment in the petition that would indicate that there was any concert in the operation, and there was no negligence on the part of the defendant Grace Deibig that in any way contributed to the collision and injury to the plaintiff unless it is averred and proven that Elizabeth Deibig at the time of the collision was operating the machine for Grace Deibig and at her request. See also Roberts, Executor et v Roberts, Jr. et, 61 Oh St 96. 15 Oh St 324. 21 Ohio Jurisprudence, pages 861 to 934.
Concurring Opinion
CONCURRING OPINION
We concur in the judgment herein on 'the sole ground that the demurrer of Elizabeth Deibig by her guardian ad litem, to the petition herein was properly sustained for the reason that she was improperly joined as a party defendant with Grace Deibig, and separate causes of action against each of the defendants were improperly joined. No application for severance of parties defendant or causes of action or for amendment of petition was made when the demurrer was sustained or at any time thereafter, and neither severance nor leave to amend was ordered or granted by the court; therefore the judgment of dismissal of the petition as to the defendant Grace Deibig entered upon the sustaining of the demurrer was final.
The cause of action against the' defendant Elizabeth Deibig alleged in the petition is a cause of action, for negligence in the operation of the automobile driven by her and owned by the defendant, Grace Deibig while the cause of action averred against the
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.