Case Title: Milne v. Anderson

Citation: 554 P.2d 402

Docket Number: 2416

State: alaska

Court: Alaska Supreme Court

Date: 1976-09-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
554 P.2d 402 (1976) James D. MILNE, Appellant, v. Esther S. ANDERSON, Appellee. No. 2416. Supreme Court of Alaska. September 6, 1976. *403 Charles K. Cranston, of Gallagher, Cranston & Snow, Anchorage, for appellant. A. Robert Hahn, Jr., of Hahn, Jewell & Stanfill, Anchorage, for appellee. Before BOOCHEVER, C.J., and RABINOWITZ, CONNOR, ERWIN and BURKE, JJ. PER CURIAM. This litigation was initiated when appellee Esther Anderson filed a complaint in district court against appellant James Milne. Anderson's claim for relief was grounded on a promissory note given her by Milne for a loan of $4,000. In the district court action Anderson asserted that there was an unpaid balance due of $3,269, plus interest, costs and attorney's fees. As part of his answer, Milne alleged a counterclaim in the amount of $4,287, based upon a sale of real estate from Anderson to Milne. Since the validity of, and balance owing by Milne under the promissory note was stipulated to at trial, the non-jury trial involved only issues raised by Milne's counterclaim. In a memorandum opinion the district court, James A. Hanson, Superior Court Judge presiding, ruled that Milne was entitled to $756.43 of the amount he claimed. After judgment was entered in the district court, Milne appealed to the superior court. Thereafter, Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Moody entered an order in which he found in part that Judge Hanson's judgment in the district court action was in effect a judgment of the superior court. More particularly, the order in question states: Judge Moody's order then provided for dismissal of Milne's appeal with directions permitting Milne to appeal to this court as in cases initially arising in superior court. In our recent opinion in Stephens v. Hammersley, 550 P.2d 1268, 1269 (Alaska 1976), we said: Stephens v. Hammersley is controlling and we therefore reverse Judge Moody's jurisdictional order and remand the matter to the superior court for determination of the merits of Milne's appeal. Remanded.