Case Name: First National Bank of Carlisle v. McCoy
Court: Appellate Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1923-12-19
Citations: 80 Ind. App. 613
Docket Number: No. 11,719
Parties: First National Bank of Carlisle v. McCoy.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Court of Appeals Reports
Volume: 80
Pages: 613–614

Head Matter:
First National Bank of Carlisle v. McCoy.
[No. 11,719.
Filed December 19, 1923.]
1. Appeal.—Assignment of Error.—Causes for New Trial Improper.—Assignments that the decision of the court was contrary to law or not sustained by sufficient evidence are proper grounds for a motion for a new trial, but are improper assignments of error, p. 614.
2. Pleading.—Demurrer.—Overruling.—Where the court is requested to and does make a special finding of facts and states conclusions of law thereon, any error of the court in overruling a demurrer to a pleading is thereby rendered harmless, p. 614.
From Sullivan Circuit Court; Walter F. Wood, Judge.
Action by the First National Bank of Carlisle against Fred M. McCoy. From a judgment for defendant, the plaintiff appeals.
Affirmed.
Frank C. Wade, for appellant.
Lindley & Bedwell, for appellee

Opinion:
Enloe, J.
Action by appellant against appellee upon a promissory note. To a complaint in one paragraph, the appellee answered by general denial, and also by two affirmative paragraphs, to which the appellant unsuccessfully demurred. The cause was submitted to the court for trial with a request for.a special finding of facts and conclusions of law thereon. The court made a finding of facts and stated conclusions of law thereon as requested, the conclusions so stated being favorable to the appellee. There was a motion for a new trial, which being overruled, this appeal is now prosecuted from the judgment rendered herein.' The appellant has assigned as error: (a) The action of the court in overruling its demurrer to said paragraphs of answer; (b) that the decision of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence; and (c) that the decision of the court is contrary to law.
The first alleged error is the only one properly assigned; the other assignments, while proper as causes to be assigned in a motion for a new trial, are not proper as independent assignments of error and therefore present no question for our consideration. Southern Ind. R. Co. v. Indianapolis, etc., R. Co. (1907), 168 Ind. 360, 81 N. E. 65, 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 197; Robbins v. Mcgee (1884), 96 Ind. 174. As to the first assigned error,—it is now the settled law in this state, that where the court is required to and does find the facts specially and states its conclusion of law thereon, such conclusion of law being valid, any error of the court in overruling a demurrer to a pleading is thereby rendered harmless. Woodward v. Mitchell (1895), 140 Ind. 406, 39 N. E. 437; Smith, Trustee, v. Wells Mfg. Co. (1897), 148 Ind. 333, 46 N. E. 1000. In this case the soundness of the conclusions of law stated by the court are not challenged. No error is presented.
Judgment affirmed.