Case ID: nc_236/html/0427-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WiNBORNE, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

NETTIE V. REMSEN and JAMES D. REMSEN, Her Husband; LUCY V. HARRELL and ERNEST T. HARRELL, Her Husband, and JOHNNIE E. VINSON, a Widow, v. J. C. EDWARDS and LOLLIE EDWARDS, His Wife.
    (Filed 5 November, 1952.)
    Pleadings § 28—
    In determining a motion for judgment on tbe pleadings, tlie court’s decision must be based upon facts alleged on tbe one band and admitted on tbe other, and it is error for tbe court to bear evidence and find facts in support of its judgment upon tbe motion, since if tbe pleadings raise any issues of fact tbey must be tried by a jury in tbe absence of waiver of jury trial and agreement that tbe court should find tbe facts. G.S. 1-172.
    Appeal by defendants from Stevens, J., at March Term, 1952, of N ORTHAMPTON.
    Civil action to bave a deed declared to be a mortgage, and to bave been satisfied, and for an accounting, etc.
    Plaintiffs filed a complaint in wbicb is set out tbe facts constituting tbeir cause of action as tbey contend them to be.
    Defendants filed an answer to tbe complaint of plaintiffs in wbicb tbey admit parts of tbe allegations of complaint, and deny other parts. And for further answer tbey set out facts constituting further defenses to plaintiffs’ alleged cause of action, as tbey contend tbe facts to be.
    And plaintiffs, in reply, admit parts of tbe averments so set out in defendants’ answer, and deny other parts.
    A pre-trial conference was held, at wbicb certain stipulations were made in respect to matters wbicb are not determinative of tbe controversy.
    Then when tbe cause came on for bearing at tbe March Term, 1952, of Northampton Superior Court, and after a jury was selected and impaneled, and tbe plaintiffs bad offered certain documentary evidence, tbey moved for judgment, reading as follows:
    “That tbe allegations of tbe Answer, even though tbe same be all taken to be true for tbe purpose of this motion, do not constitute a valid and legal defense to tbe claim of tbe plaintiffs that tbe transaction complained of was one for tbe security of a debt of Joe B. Yinson and Johnnie Yinson to J. 0. Edwards, and for the security of money and supplies advanced by J. C. Edwards to Joe E. Yinson after November 21, 1934.
    “Wherefore, the plaintiffs move for judgment:
    “1. That the deed, deed of trust and agreement to reconvey referred to in paragraph 9 of the complaint were intended by the parties thereto as and constitute a mortgage securing the payment of the $4,181.67 note of Joe B. Yinson and Johnnie Yinson, and also securing the payment of money and supplies advanced by J. C. Edwards to Joe B. Yinson after November 21, 1934.
    “2. That the plaintiffs are the owners in fee simple of the lands described in the complaint.
    “3. That a Referee be appointed to take an account of the mortgage debt, of what has been paid thereon and of the amount, if any, which is due the plaintiffs by J. C. Edwards.”
    Thereupon the court entered a judgment in which after reciting that “It appears to the court and the court finds as facts from the stipulations and the admissions in the pleading” there are set out twenty-five paragraphs of findings of fact, upon which conclusions of law are made, and judgment rendered.
    Defendants except to the judgment and appeal to the Supreme Court, and assign error.
    
      Martin F. P apish and Gay & Midyette for plaintiffs, appellees.
    
    
      Eric Norfleet, Allshrook <& Benton, and W. II. S. Burgwyn, Jr., for defendants, appellants.
    
   WiNBORNE, J.

The subject of “judgment on the pleadings” has been fully discussed in opinion by Ervin, J., in the recent case of Erickson v. Starling, 235 N.C. 643, 71 S.E. 2d 384. The ruling there is applicable, and determinative here.

It is there held that “On a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the presiding judge should consider the pleadings, and nothing else . . . He should not hear extrinsic evidence, or make findings of fact. If he concludes on his consideration of the pleadings that a material issue of fact has been joined between the parties, he should deny the motion in its entirety, and have the issue of fact tried and determined in the way appointed by law before undertaking to adjudicate the rights of the parties.”

Issues of fact must be tried by a jury, unless trial by jury is waived. Gr.S. 1-172. See Erickson v. Starling, supra. And in the present case a jury trial was not waived, nor did the parties consent for the trial judge to find the facts.

Hence, in the light of these rules of practice applied to the pleadings and case in hand, we hold that error appears upon the face of the record and judgment. And a detailed discussion of tbe pleadings will serve no useful purpose.

Error.