Case Name: WHITE v. WHITE
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1922-06-27
Citations: 153 La. 313
Docket Number: No. 24710
Parties: WHITE v. WHITE.
Judges: By Division C, composed of Justices DAWKINS, ST. PAUD, and THOMPSON.
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 153
Pages: 313–317

Head Matter:
(95 South. 791)
No. 24710.
WHITE v. WHITE.
(On Motion to Dismiss Appeal June 27, 1922.
On the Merits, Jan. 27, 1923.)
(Syllabus by Editorial Staff.)
On Motion to Dismiss Appeal.
1. Appeal and error <&wkey;l51 (5) — Plaintiff may appeal from default judgment for separation when silent as to demand for partition and injunction.
Though judgment of separation is rendered by default, where it did not order a partition of the community property as prayed or maintain injunction against alienation, plaintiff might appeal, under Code Prac. art. -565.
2. Appeal and error <&wkey;l5l(l)— Any one aggrieved by judgment may appeal.
Any one aggrieved by the judgment has the right to appeal, unless he has acquiesced therein or is otherwise deprived of that remedy.
On the Merits.
3. Hushand and wife &wkey;>272 (I) — Judgment of separation dissolves community.
■ Judgment of separation from bed and board dissolves community of acquSts and gains existing between husband and wife.
4. Husband and wife &wkey;>272(6) — Wife must accept community within 30 days after dissolution, or is deemed to renounce.
Under Oiv. Code, arts. 1050, 2414, 2420, a wife must accept community within 30 days after its dissolution by judgment of separation, unless she obtains further time; and, if she does not, is deemed to renounce it.
5. Husband and wife <&wkey;272(6) — Wife cannot accept community until dissolution.
The wife cannot finally accept the community until its dissolution.
t>. Husband and wife <&wkey;272(4) — Wife may sue for partition of community property in suit for separation.
Wife, if desirous of accepting community when dissolved, may sue for partition of community property in the same suit in which she sues for separation from bed and board.
7.Husband and wife <&wkey;>272(6) — Wife, may accept community by executing judgment for separation and partition or otherwise.
Wife, upon obtaining judgment of separation from bed and board and partition of community property, may accept the community by proceeding with execution of the partition judgment, or in some other manner, tacitly or expressly, within the delay for acceptance.
8. Husband and wife <&wkey;272(4) — Silence of judgment respecting demand for partition equivalent to rejection.
Silence of judgment granting separation from bed and board as to plaintiff’s demand for partition of community property was equivalent to absolute rejection of that demand.
9. Husband and wife <&wkey;272(6)— Delay for accepting community upon dissolution does not run until judgment on appeal from judgment silent as to partition.
Where judgment of separation was silent as to plaintiff’s demand for partition of community property, she had right to appeal devolutively within the delays for such appeal, and the delay for accepting the community did not run until rendition of final judgment on appeal.
10. Appeal and error (&wkey;l 116 — Judgment rendered maintaining injunction which should have been maintained, though by reason of dissolution it may now be of little service.
Where injunction against alienation of community property, dissolved by judgment of separation without provision for partition, was issued lawfully, and should have been maintained, judgment will be rendered on devolutive appeal maintaining it, though it may now be of but little service.
Appeal from Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans; H. C. Cage, Judge.
Action by Mary Cooli White against Alexander C. White. Judgment for plaintiff for insufficient relief, and she appeals.
Judgment amended and affirmed.
Dart, Kernan & Dart, of New Orleans, for appellant.
Woodville & Woodville, of New Orleans, for appellee.
By Division C, composed of Justices DAWKINS, ST. PAUD, and THOMPSON.

Opinion:
On Motion to Dismiss Appeal.
DAWKINS, J.
Plaintiff obtained in the court below a judgment of separation from bed and board, giving her the care and custody of the minor children, and for alimony at the rate of $125 per month. This judgment was signed January 6, 1921, and on April 7th of the same year plaintiff took a devolutive appeal.
The judgment below was proven up as on default, after the overruling of certain exceptions by defendant, and the latter appeared as a witness, being called on cross-examination under the statute of 1908 (No. 126).
Defendant has moved to dismiss the appeal upon the ground that the "judgment (below) is in her favor, is in accordance and conforms to her pleadings and her evidence, and she cannot now be heard to ask that same be reversed, as the judgment is in her favor."
We are informed by the brief of appellant "against the motion to dismiss" that the appeal was taken for the following reasons, to wit :
"This judgment granted the separation from bed and board, the custody of the children, and an allowance of' alimony, but did not order a partition of the community property, or maintain the injunction, against alienatipn of same by defendant. This was not noticed by plaintiff in time for a motion for' a new trial, and an appeal was prosecuted to correct this manifest oversight and error of the district judge."
An examination of the petition and the evidence clearly demonstrates that a demand for partition of the community property was made, and that proof of its nature and extent was offered. Theréfore this presents an issue or demand which, in effect, was rejected by the silence of the judgment. We do not feel called upon, or think it proper, to pass upon this issue on a motion to dismiss. Any one aggrieved by the judgment of a trial court has the right to appeal, unless he has acquiesced therein, or is otherwise deprived of that remedy. C. P. art. 565, Soniat v. Whitmer, 141 La. 240, 74 South. 916.
The motion to dismiss is therefore denied.