Gibson v. Gibson
Gibson v. Gibson
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit for divorce, consolidated with an action for the recovery of certain certificates of mining stock issued by the defendant corporation. There Avas a decree for the plaintiff in both actions. The defendant Marie T. Gibson has appealed, and the plaintiff, hereafter called cross-appellant, has taken a cross-appeal from that part of the decree awarding costs and attorney’s fees to the defendant Mrs. Gibson. The appeal of Mrs. Gibson, hereafter called the appellant, will be first considered.
The court found that the appellant has subjected the cross-appellant to cruel and inhuman treatment, rendering his life burdensome, and that it is impossible for them to longer live together as husband and wife. It further found that the charge of adultery made by the appellant against the cross-appellant in her cross-complaint is untrue. The appellant’s first contention is that the finding of cruelty is not sufficiently broad to support the decree of divorce. It suffices to say that the ultimate fact of cruelty is found. While we adhere to the rule announced in Bloom v. Bloom, 57 Wash. 23, 106 Pac. 197, 135 Am. St. 965, that it is better practice to have “full and explicit” findings, Ave will not give the findings a technical construction where the evidence is before us, but will consider the case on its merits.
It is argued that the appellant should have been awarded a portion of the property. On the property question, the court found that there is no community property, which is conceded, and that the appellant obtained the certificates of mining stock through false representations. The decree dis
We will now consider the cross-appeal. The findings of fact, decree, and motion for a new trial were each filed with the clerk on March 15. The decree provides that neither party recover costs, and that the appellant recover no attorney’s fees. The motion for a new trial was overruled, but the order overruling the motion modified the original decree to the extent that it required the cross-appellant to pay the appellant’s costs and an additional attorney’s fee of $500. The court had jurisdiction, in passing on the motion for a new trial, to reopen the case for further testimony, or to modify the decree. He chose the latter course. Rem. & Bal. Code, § § 368, 398, 402. Section 398 is as follows: “A new trial is a reexamination of an issue [of fact] in the same court after a trial and decision by a jury, court, or referees.” The allowance of costs' and reasonable attorney’s fees in favor of the wife in divorce cases, without regard to whether she is the prevailing party, is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court; arid its rulings in that respect, unless an abuse of discretion is clearly shown, will not be
The cross-appellant has cited authorities which hold that, after a motion for a new trial has been overruled, a further application for a new trial or modification of the judgment cannot be heard. This is undoubtedly the correct rule. He cites upon this question Burnham v. Spokane Mercantile Co., 18 Wash. 207, 51 Pac. 363, and other cases. Kincaid v. Walla Walla Valley Traction Co., 57 Wash. 334, 106 Pac. 918, 135 Am. St. 982, announces the same rule. These cases, however, have no application. The judgment is affirmed as to both parties. Neither party will recover costs on appeal.
Parker, Crow, and Chadwick, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Stephen A. Gibson v. Marie M. T. Gibson, Montana Scotch Bonnet Copper & Gold Mining Company
- Cited By
- 11 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Appeal — Review—Findings—Construction. Where the evidence is brought up on appeal, the findings will not be given a technical construction, but the case will be considered oñ its merits. Divorce — Grounds—Cruelty—Evidence—Sufficiency. A divorce on the ground of cruelty on the part of the wife is justified where it appears that she refused to cohabit with the plaintiff, was guilty of fraud and deceit in securing a marriage without intent to cohabit, and brought an unfounded charge of adultery against him. Divorce — Division of Property — Suit Money — Allowances—Sufficiency. Upon granting a divorce on the ground of cruelty on the part of the wife, who secured the marriage by deceit, allowances to the wife of $600 alimony, $125 suit money, and $750 attorney’s fees and costs, is an ample provision, where there was no community property and the husband, a retired farmer in comfortable circumstances, had already given her $1,000. Divorce — Allowance—Attorney’s Fees. On motion for a new trial in a divorce case, the court has jurisdiction to reopen the case and modify the decree by requiring payment of costs and a further allowance for attorney’s fees. Same — Attorney’s Fees. The allowance of attorney’s fees to the wife in a divorce case is within the sound discretion of the trial court; and no abuse is shown by the allowance of $500 additional, upon denying a motion for a new trial, the preliminary allowance having been $250.