Case Name: McGAW et ux. v. O'BEIRNE
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1910-02-28
Citations: 126 La. 584
Docket Number: No. 18,081
Parties: McGAW et ux. v. O’BEIRNE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 126
Pages: 583–589

Head Matter:
(52 South. 775.)
No. 18,081.
McGAW et ux. v. O’BEIRNE.
(Feb. 28, 1910.
On the Merits, June 6, 1910.)
(Syllabus by the Court.)
1. Appeal and Error (§ 14*) — Dismissal— Effect.
A judgment dismissing an appeal for omission of any legal formality does not preclude the appellant from taking a second appeal within the year.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 49-52; Dec. Dig. § 14.*]
2. Divorce (§ 297*) — Agreement to Support Children — Construction—“Complete Ed - UCATION.”
A contract by the husband with his divorced wife to pay for the “complete education” of the three children of the marriage will be construed -with reference to the social and financial standing of the parties at the time and in the light of all the surrounding facts and circumstances. The term “complete education” construed in this case not to include a postgraduate course in some distant university.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Divorce, Cent. Dig. § 780; Dec. Dig. § 297.*]
3. DIVORCE (§ 297*) — CONTRACT TO EDUCATE Children — Breach—Right of Action.
On the breach of such a contract,' the divorced wife may treat the contract as absolutely and finally broken, and recover damages as of tlie total breach of an entire contract.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Divorce, Cent. Dig. § 780; Dec. Dig. § 297.*]
4. Divorce (§ 297*) — Contract to Educate Children — Breach—Right of Action.
A previous putting in default is not required where the defendant has refused to perform the obligation of his contract as construed by the court.
[Bid. Note. — For other cases, see Divorce, Cent. Dig. § 780; Dee. Dig. § 297.*]
(Additional Syllabus by Editorial Staif.) .
5. Specific Performance (§ 76*) — Contracts Enforceable — Contracts to Pay Money.
A contract to pay money cannot be specifically enforced.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Specific Performance, Cent. Dig. § 211; Dec. Dig. § 76.*]
Appeal from Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans; George H. Theard, Judge.
Action by Mr. and Mrs. William H. McGaw against Edward J. O’Beirne. Judgment for defendant, and plaintiffs appeal.
Reversed and rendered.
See, also, 124 La. 989, 50 South. 819.
Wm. J. Formento and Teissier & Teissier, for appellants. George W. Flynn, for appel-lee.

Opinion:
On Motion to Dismiss.
LAND, J.
Plaintiffs took a former appeal in this case, which they perfected by giving bond and filing transcript. The said appeal was dismissed at the instance of the defendant and appellee because it was made on a motion at an ensuing term without citation to the appellee.
The present motion to dismiss is on the ground that plaintiffs cannot take a second appeal.
In Dugas v. Truxillo, 15 La. Ann. 116, the court said:
"That appeal was dismissed on motion of the appellees, and cannot be considered as an abandonment of the appeal by the appellants. The second appeal having been taken within the year, is valid under the authority of the case of Smith v. Vanhille, 11 La. 382." See, also, Johnson v. Clark & Meador, 29 La. Ann. 763; Hoover's Heirs v. York, 35 La. Ann. 574; Succession of Weber, 110 La. 675, 34 South. 731.
Motion overruled.