Brundridge v. Goodlove
Brundridge v. Goodlove
Opinion of the Court
"We are called upon to determine but one question : Did the district court err in dismissing the appeal? The decision of that question, however, depends upon the determination of another : Had the parties the right to demand a jury trial? S. & C. 589. A jury trial may be demanded of “issues of fact .arising in actions for the recovery of money.” Code, sec. 263. If, then, this ■case was an action for the recovery of mouey, a jury trial might be demanded, for an issue df fact arose in the action. Was the action for the recovery of money? That must be •determined by the character of the petition. The petition is founded on a claim for the recovery of money as dam.ages for the "breach of a contract, and a money judgment is the primary relief asked for. Had no other relief been prayed for, there could be no question but that either party might demand a jury trial. Do the additional statements in the petition, as a ground for equitable relief, change the right of the plaintiff to demand a money judgment ? He has made a case in the petition for a money judgment, and
One thing is clear. If the plaintiff made a good cause •of action for anything, it was one for the recovery of money, ■and it is equally clear that a recovery for full damages was ■sought; nor is it less true because he endeavored to make another case which would not be triable as of right to a jury. Though- his two grounds of action, or tíre relief sought, may have been inconsistent, and therefore one or the other not maintainable, we see no reason why he should be forced to abandon his primary ground of action, nor why he might not claim to recover upon it, a's he did, hy insisting upon a trial by jury of the cause of action made in the petition for money. Grant that he could not have both remedies sought in the petition, he might elect which he would pursue. This he jpractically did, by insisting, from first to last, upon a jury trial, and the enforcement of his action as a claim for damages. lie does not seek an injunction for the future, and an account for past •damages; but the petition is framed for full damages primarily, and it would seem that he stood in a position to .ask a judgment therefor, though he might thereby debar himself from the equitable relief he prayed for.
It is claimed on the part of the plaintiff'in error that the case of Rowland v. Entrekin, 27 Ohio St. 47, is decisive of this case. In that case the right to a money judgment was •entirely dependent upon a primary equitable reformation •of a contract. On the contrary, in this case, the right to a
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- S. P. Brundridge v. W. M. Goodlove
- Status
- Published