Case ID: haw_25/html/0577-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "KEMP, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

JOHN KAHAKA KAHEPU v. CHARLES E. KING.
    No. 1168.
    Error to Circuit Judge Fourth Circuit. Hon. C. K. Quinn, Judge.
    Argued July 20, 1920.
    Decided July 22, 1920.
    Coke, C. J., Kemp and Edings, JJ.
    Appeal and Error — assignment of errors — sufficiency.
    An assignment of error general in its nature and indefinite is not sufficient and will not be considered.
   OPINION OF THE COURT BY

KEMP, J.

This is a writ of error sued out bv the plaintiff to review a decree entered in the above entitled cause, the assignments of error, omitting the unnecessary verbiage, being as follows: “(1) That the master of accounts committed prejudicial error to the plaintiff herein named in the computation and summary of accounts existing between the said plaintiff; (2) that said master aforesaid erred in his findings as such master of accounts recommending that plaintiff pay over unto said defendant the sum of $3012.68, said master’s findings and recommendations * * * being adverse to the testimony and evidence adduced at .the hearing before said master; (3) that in awarding said sum of $3012.68 * * * the said master committed error in that he did omit very important findings and recommendations, to wit, concerning the mortgages now and at that time appearing in record as being uncanceled and filed at the hearing had before said master between the plaintiff herein and the said defendant, all of which was and is grievous and prejudicial errors against the said plaintiff; (1) that said circuit court of the'fourth judicial circuit erred iu its findings by its decision, the findings set forth in said decision being contrary to the evidence thereto adduced or predicated; (5) that the decree sought to he set aside and reversed does not comply with the prayer of the relief prayed for by plaintiff or the defendant herein named and is therefore erroneous and contrary to the evidence adduced in said cause.”

It is well settled by the decisions of this court that an assignment of error general in its nature and indefinite is not sufficient and will not be considered. Pahukula v. Maguire, 9 Haw. 630.

We are of the opinion that none of the assignments of error except the fifth is sufficiently definite to enable us to consider it. The fifth assignment of error raises the single question of whether or not the decree was authorized by the prayer of the plaintiff or defendant. After the filing of plaintiff’s bill, which was a bill for an accounting in which the plaintiff prayed “that pending a hearing had herein an account may he taken of all sums of money received by or come to the hands of the said defendant as such agent of the plaintiff,” the defendant filed his answer and cross-bill in which he also prayed “that the court order a full and complete accounting between plaintiff, the respondent and the Hilo Building and Loan Association, Limited; that the plaintiff may be ordered to pay to the respondent and the Hilo Building and Loan Association, Limited, the amounts of money which shall be found to be due and owing from the plaintiff to the respondent and the Hilo Building and Loan Association, Limited.” The court thereupon appointed a master at the request of both parties “for the purpose of hearing the above entitled cause and submitting his findings to this court.” After a lengthy hearing in which all of the business transactions between the plaintiff and defendant were fully inquired into the master stated an account between them showing that the plaintiff is indebted to the defendant in the sum of $3042.32 and recommended among other things that a decree be entered allowing this amount, being the balance after disallowing many items claimed by the defendant to be owing to him from plaintiff. No account was stated between the plaintiff and the Hilo Building and Loan Association, Limited, and no decree entered requiring the plaintiff to account to said association.

J. ¡3. Ferry for plaintiff in error.

W. H. Beers and N. W. Aluli filed a brief for defendant in error.

Under this state of facts we are unable to sustain the contention of the plaintiff in error that the decree is not supported by the prayer for relief.

The decree is affirmed.