Case ID: wash_127/html/0678-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Main, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[No. 17537.
    
      En Banc.
    
    January 2, 1924.]
    Fred Adams, by his Guardian ad Litem Blanche Tabert, et al., Respondents, v. Anderson & Middleton Lumber Company, Appellant. 
      
    
    Appeal (480) — Decision—Scope and Extent of Relief — To Defendant — Dismissal. Where it was error to grant a motion for a new trial on the ground of inadequacy of damages, because there was not sufficient evidence to take the case to the jury, the appellant was entitled to have its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict sustained, and the supreme court will order the action dismissed.
    Appeal from an order of the superior court for Grays Harbor county, Sheeks, J., entered June 9,1922, granting a new trial for inadequacy of damages awarded by a jury, in an action for personal injuries sustained by a minor struck by an auto truck.
    Remanded for judgment of dismissal.
    
      Theodore B. Bruener, for appellant.
    
      
      Reported in 221 Pac. 993.
    
   On Rehearing.

Main, C. J.

In the original opinion in this case, 124 Wash. 356, 214 Pac. 835, there is an improvident expression or two contained in the recitals which might be construed as indicating that the defendant had the right to appeal from the denial of its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. In order that there may be no misunderstanding, it should be here stated that it was not the intention to so hold in that case. The question was not there involved and was only incidentally referred to. It is the rule that an appeal does not lie from the denial of a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, but that the ruling of the trial court in this respect will be reviewed upon an appeal from the final judgment. Windt v. Banniza, 2 Wash. 147, 26 Pac. 189; Schlotfeldt v. Bull, 13 Wash. 242, 54 Pac. 33; Crooks v. Rust, 125 Wash. 563, 216 Pac. 869.

Where, however, as pointed out in the Departmental opinion, there is not sufficient evidence to take a case to the jury, it is error for the trial court to grant a motion for a new trial upon the ground of the inadequacy of the damages, and the party against whom the verdict is rendered has the right to urge, upon the appeal from the motion granting the new trial, the fact that there was not evidence to take the case to the jury, even though he could not appeal from the denial of the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.

Upon rehearing, a question was presented to which our attention had not been directed at the time the cause was heard by the Department. This question was: What is the proper judgment to he entered in the case? If it was error to grant the motion for a new trial on the ground of the inadequacy of the damages because there was not sufficient evidence to take the case to the jury, there does not appear to be any good reason why any other judgment should be directed than that of a dismissal. It would serve no useful purpose to send the case back to the superior court with direction to overrule the motion for a new trial and require the defendant to take another appeal from the judgment entered upon the verdict. In Larson v. American Bridge Co., 40 Wash. 224, 82 Pac. 294, 111 Am. St. 904, the defendant challenged the sufficiency of the evidence and moved for a judgment of dismissal. The challenge and motion were denied and the cause submitted to the jury. A verdict was returned in favor of the plaintiff which was afterwards set aside and a new trial granted. Prom the order granting a new trial, the plaintiff appealed. It was there held that, inasmuch as the evidence showed no cause of action against the defendant, the cause should he remanded with instructions to dismiss. It was there said:

“Respondent asks, inasmuch as the evidence shows no cause of action against it, that the cause shall he remanded with instructions to dismiss the action. We think this request should he granted. Respondent was entitled at the trial to have its challenge to the evidence sustained, and it is still entitled to it. Bernhard v. Reeves, 6 Wash. 424, 33 Pac. 873.
The action of the court in setting aside the verdict is affirmed; hut the cause is remanded with instructions to vacate so much of the order as grants a new trial, and to enter a judgment dismissing the action.”

Applying the rule of that case, the appellant was entitled to have its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict sustained, and is still entitled to it.

The direction given in the department opinion will he modified and the cause will he remanded to the superior court where a judgment will b.e entered dismissing the action.

Parker, Mitchell, Bridges, Mackintosh, Tolman, and Holcomb, JJ., concur.

Fullerton, J., concurs in the result.