Opinion ID: 1207624
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The motion for dismissal of the complaint against Mark Construction, prime contractor.

Text: Although the motion does not meet the desirable standards of stating with specificity the grounds for dismissal, the accompanying affidavit sufficiently indicates that it is premised on the fact that the subcontractor had a pending assumpsit action against movant on the same cause of action and in which a sum in excess of the claim had been garnished. Movant had already begun to defend that action by filing an answer and a counterclaim, and had also attached certain properties of the appellant. Movant was essentially asserting a matter in abatement, and not asking for summary judgment. Abatement almost always refers to a procedural or jurisdictional defect which can be cured rather than to a substantive issue. Thomas v. Navas, 47 Haw. 605, 393 P.2d 645 (1964). In the instant case, the problem is that of a pending case on the same issue, assumpsit, involving the same plaintiff and defendant, and asking for the same relief, payment of the amount due. The Hawaii cases clearly indicate that where the party is the same in a pending suit, and the cause is the same and the relief is the same, a good plea in abatement lies. Yee Hop v. Nakuina, 25 Haw. 205 (1919); Oahu Lumber & Bldg. Co. v. Ah Yok, 11 Haw. 416 (1898). We hold the motion satisfactory in form and timely made. We specifically reject appellant's contentions that the claim, parties and relief are not identical for the reasons stated in subsection A of this part.