Opinion ID: 1718207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Summary Judgment for Defendant

Text: Even if the Court is of the opinion that summary judgment for the plaintiff was improvident, the summary judgment for the defendant violates established procedural standards. The Court sums up its rationale in a footnote (No. 1) which is noteworthy in that it contains more misstatements of established procedural law than I have ever seen in such a confined space. I particularize. The fundamental error, perhaps, is highlighted in the statements about what the plaintiff chose to plead and try. There of course was no trial. Next, the summary judgment for the defendant is jurisdictionally flawed under the ten-day provision of Rule 74.04(c). The defendant's opposing affidavit, filed on the day of the hearing, could properly be received in opposition to the plaintiffs' motion, but it cannot support the motion of the defendant. The ten-day provision is mandatory. Joachim Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 764 S.W.2d 648, 650 (Mo.App.1988). The reason for the ten-day provision is that the trial court has great discretion in the processing of summary judgment. The trial court is not obliged to accept the statements in affidavits, even though they are not explicitly controverted. Affidavits and other materials presented on behalf of the moving party are strictly construed. Rule 74.04(e) provides that the trial court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, or further affidavits. The trial court had no occasion to tender the plaintiffs this opportunity, insofar as the defendant's motion is concerned, because it was of the opinion that the plaintiffs were the parties entitled to summary judgment. See Noll v. Shelter Ins. Co., 774 S.W.2d 147, 149 (Mo. banc 1989), holding that the prevailing party need not respond to points which need be reached only if there is a reversal. Simply because the Court feels that the plaintiff is not entitled to summary judgment, it does not follow that the defendant is so entitled. [20] It is also stated that ACLU made no claim in its petition for return of any portion of the salary paid defendant. The essence of the plaintiffs' claim was that the defendant violated his contract of employment by receiving additional compensation for legal services performed as a part of his employment. The plaintiffs are entitled to explore any aspect of that fact situation, and to amend to reach this result. Wells v. Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, 739 S.W.2d 706 (Mo. banc 1987); Grandview Bank & Trust Co. v. Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, 739 S.W.2d 707 (Mo. banc 1987). They should not be cast on summary judgment without being given the opportunity to amend their pleading to state a claim for recovery of salary, if that might be a viable claim. [21] The action should not be dismissed short of the trial stage if the pleadings state facts which might support recovery on any reasonable theory. [22] At a later point the Court says, we point out that D.C. is not a party to this action and we insinuate nothing as to his rights to the proceeds. The plaintiffs had an assignment from D.C., which gave them colorable authority to claim what he might be entitled to. The defendant made no point in the trial court of the absence of D.C. as a party, although he did object that ACLU/EM was not a party at the inception and that organization was later included as a party. If it is necessary to make D.C. a party, the plaintiffs should have the opportunity to do so. [23] It violates established procedural norms to put them out of court on summary judgment without giving them this opportunity. The vice of the principal opinion with respect to the motion for summary judgment is highlighted by two particular passages, in which the defendant's late affidavit is apparently accepted uncritically. It states that the payment to the attorney was made according to the city's standard procedure in such matters. The opinion simply lifts the bare language of the defendant's affidavit. Furthermore, I am unable to see what legal significance the city's standard procedure has. There is no explanation as to how the plaintiff can draw down the award personally when he was not entitled to it by the terms of the judgment, or how he could draw it down as an attorney when he was no longer an attorney in the case. It is also said that defendant offered to refund a proportional share of the salary. The only basis for this statement is an affidavit filed on the date of the hearing, stating the bare allegations that the opinion parrots. Nothing in the papers shows what amount was tendered, or the basis for computation. If this allegation has any significance, it is not sufficiently established by the affidavit. If the tender was made as an offer in compromise, then it is clearly not admissible against either the offeror or the offeree, under established legal standards. [24] If the point is that the defendant has tendered all that the plaintiffs are claiming, then why are the plaintiffs not entitled to some recovery based on a portion of the salary paid the defendant? If they are entitled to anything, then the Court improvidently entered summary judgment for the defendant. Footnote 1 concludes by saying that the decision does not determine the so-called `ethical conduct' of the defendant to which the dissent alludes. The defendant's conduct stands out on the face of the record. The principal opinion, by directing summary judgment for the defendant, necessarily places its stamp of approval on the defendant's conduct, and holds that the plaintiff is without remedy on account of this conduct. Why this deliberate closing of the eyes? Cf. Sprung v. Negwer Materials, Inc., 775 S.W.2d 97 (Mo. banc 1989); Sprung v. Negwer Materials, Inc., 727 S.W.2d 883 (Mo. banc 1987). The summary judgment for the defendant violates established procedural norms. It will rise to haunt us in years to come, in sundry cases. Even if the Court concludes that the summary judgment for the plaintiff is infirm, the case should be remanded for further proceedings. A plaintiff who is successful in the trial court should not be summarily turned out on appeal without being provided the opportunity to explore alternatives on remand. Moss v. National Super Markets, Inc., 781 S.W.2d 784, 786 (Mo. banc 1989).