Title: Temme v. Traxel

State: north-dakota

Issuer: North Dakota Supreme Court

Document:

102 N.W.2d 1 (1960) L. F. TEMME, as administrator over the estate of Beata Traxel, aka Beatha Traxel, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Robert TRAXEL, Defendant and Appellant. No. 7796. Supreme Court of North Dakota. March 21, 1960. *2 Floyd B. Sperry, Bismarck, for plaintiff and respondent. Sailer & Richardson, Hazen, for defendant and appellant. PER CURIAM. The plaintiff is the administrator of the estate of Beata Traxel, deceased, and brings this action in his official capacity to recover the sum of $2,000 with lawful interest from the defendant under these allegations: The defendant answered, admitting the appointment of plaintiff as administrator and denying all of the other allegations of the complaint. The case was at issue on the trial calendar for the June 1958 term of the District Court of Mercer County, Honorable Harvey J. Miller presiding. On June 23, 1958, the parties, through their respective attorneys, appeared before Judge Miller in Dickinson, Stark County, North Dakota, where the proceedings resulting in this appeal were had. The attorney for plaintiff addressed the court as follows: After stating, "I think that the procedure comes within Rule 26 of the new set of rules," he asked that the defendant, Robert Traxel, be sworn. The attorney for defendant then stated that he believed the plaintiff had a right to call the defendant prior to the trial and attorney for the plaintiff said: After the defendant was sworn plaintiff's attorney cross-examined him. The defendant stated that he had three sisters and two brothers. When Beata Traxel died she had two $1,000 government bonds and one $500 bond. They were bought for her with her money by the defendant. He had them in his possession when she died. The defendant *3 cashed the bonds. The proceeds of the $500 bond were used to pay the funeral expenses of the deceased. The other $2,000 was retained by the defendant. There is no controversy regarding the $500 bond. The funds in issue are the proceeds of the other two bonds. Further testimony of the defendant concerning these funds is as follows: That concluded the examination of the defendant. Plaintiff's counsel then asked for a discussion off the record, which was had, after which counsel for the plaintiff said: The court immediately announced that the motion was granted. He made no findings of fact or conclusions of law but after a recitation of facts favorable to the plaintiff in an order for judgment, he directed that judgment be entered for $2,000 and costs of the action. Judgment was entered pursuant to this order and the defendant appealed and demanded a trial de novo. The plaintiff contends that the proceedings had before Judge Miller amounted to a motion for a summary judgment or for a judgment on the pleadings. The former motion is governed by Rule 56 of the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure. The latter is governed by Rule 12 (c). A motion for summary judgment must be served at least ten days before the time fixed for hearing and the adverse party may serve opposing affidavits. The moving party is entitled to a summary judgment if it appears that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and *4 that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56(c). The record is clear that no notice of motion for summary judgment was given and the defendant had no opportunity to be examined by his own attorney, to make any explanation of the testimony that was elicited from him on cross-examination or present any counter-affidavits or other showing on his behalf. The proceeding cannot be considered as a motion for judgment on the pleadings mainly for the reason that it was not made as such and for the further reason that the pleadings indicate that there are issues of fact to be tried which are not determined by the testimony elicited on defendant's cross-examination. One who moves for a summary judgment has the burden of demonstrating clearly that there is no genuine issue of fact. That is a requirement of our rule. The evidence presented at a hearing on such a motion must be construed in favor of the party opposing the motion and he must be given the benefit of all favorable inferences which may be reasonably drawn from the evidence that indicate the presence of a genuine issue of fact. Federal Practice and Procedure, Rules Edition, Barron and Holtzoff, Section 1235. The proceeding before Judge Miller was one to take a deposition in a pending action which is governed by Rule 26 of our Rules of Civil Procedure. The action is one to recover assets of the estate, brought by the administrator. The testimony of the defendant shows that he disagreed with the other heirs over putting the bonds into the estate. Aside from any question of consideration for such promises as might be inferred, the evidence does not show that any promise was made to the administrator or anyone representing the estate. The conversation was between heirs of the estate in their individual capacity. The only motion that was made was one for judgment on the defendant's testimony. Our rules do not provide for making such a motion at the taking of a deposition and without notice. It can not be entertained under the circumstances presented by this record. The judgment appealed from is reversed and the case is remanded for trial in the district court. SATHRE, C. J., and MORRIS and BURKE, JJ., concur.