Opinion ID: 2612531
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the relief granted was contrary to the prayer for relief requested in the complaint.

Text: Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in granting a judgment for relief that was contrary to the relief Ogden requested. In his complaint in intervention, Ogden asked for the following alternative prayers for relief: 1. Should Plaintiff Farmers, Inc. recover from Dal Machine and Fabricating, Inc., that Plaintiff in intervention likewise recover from said company the sum of $4,120.00. 2. Should Defendant Dal Machine and Fabricating, Inc. be given judgment against Farmers, Inc. that Plaintiff in intervention be given judgment against Farmers, Inc. in the sum of $4,120.00. It is appellant's contention that the court should be limited to granting the relief appellee requested. Therefore, appellant argues that because it obtained a favorable judgment against Dal, Ogden should have also secured a judgment against Dal. Appellant asserts that the judgment granting inconsistent relief was unfair because appellant relied on the unamended pleadings to structure its own pleadings. As a result, appellant failed to file a cross claim against Dal. Ogden contends, however, that such relief was within the theory of the case and that appellant was on notice of the relief requested, asserting that after discovery disclosed that he lacked the necessary privity with Dal, he sought relief only against appellant. The purpose of the pleadings is to give fair notice of the claims and defenses so that the opposing party may prepare for trial. Las Luminarias of N.M. Council of Blind v. Isengard, 92 N.M. 297, 587 P.2d 444 (Ct.App. 1978) (Sutin, J., concurring). The pleadings, however, are not dispositive of the issues, and recovery may be founded on other grounds not specifically stated in the complaint. Harbin v. Assurance Co. of Am., 308 F.2d 748 (10th Cir.1962). In addition, SCRA 1986, 1-054(D) states: [E]very final judgment shall grant the relief to which the party in whose favor it is rendered is entitled, even if the party has not demanded such relief in his pleadings. As a consequence of this rule and the above stated underlying policy, we have previously held that the trial court may grant any appropriate relief to which the party is entitled regardless of the prayer for relief in the complaint. Appelman v. Beach, 94 N.M. 237, 608 P.2d 1119, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 839, 101 S.Ct. 116, 66 L.Ed.2d 46 (1980); First Nat'l Bank in Albuquerque v. Energy Equities, Inc., 91 N.M. 11, 569 P.2d 421 (Ct.App. 1977). We acknowledge that under certain circumstances the court's power to grant any appropriate relief is limited. The present case, however, does not fall within any exceptions. Appellant refers us to authority wherein the court granted relief that was neither requested by the pleadings nor within the theory of the case  i.e., where the opposing party had no notice that the matters pertinent to the relief were to be covered at trial. See Federal Nat'l Mortgage Ass'n v. Rose Realty, Inc., 79 N.M. 281, 282, 442 P.2d 593, 594 (1968); Holmes v. Faycus, 85 N.M. 740, 516 P.2d 1123 (Ct.App. 1973). For example, in Holmes the court erred by granting relief for constructive eviction because the theory was neither stated in the pleadings nor within the theory of the case. Consequently, the losing party had no notice of the claim nor any opportunity to respond to this theory. Under those circumstances, an award of the unrequested relief would constitute a violation of that party's due process rights. In the instant case, however, no such violation occurred. The theory of recovery was pled in contract, and the relief granted was within that theory of the case. Moreover, appellant was on notice of the relief sought. The pretrial order clearly stated that the contested issue was appellant's obligation to pay Ogden. Appellant, along with the other parties, viewed and signed the pretrial order. It is well-settled law that the pretrial order sets out the issues for trial and becomes the law of the case. State ex rel. State Highway Dep't v. Branchau, 90 N.M. 496, 565 P.2d 1013 (1977). The function of a pretrial order is to avoid the damaging technicalities of the pleading process. At a pretrial conference, the parties should raise all legal issues in the lawsuit. See id. Based on the pretrial order, Ogden did notify both the court and appellant regarding the relief it was seeking. Appellant cannot now claim it was misled. Because the order was not modified at trial, appellant is bound by it. Johnson v. Citizens Casualty Co., 63 N.M. 460, 321 P.2d 640 (1958). In addition to the pretrial notice, the trial court also granted Ogden's motion to sever the trial so that the issue involving appellant's obligation to pay Ogden could be resolved separately. Although the trial was subsequently reconsolidated, the act of severance provided further notice that Ogden was seeking recovery solely against appellant. In accordance with the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the district court. IT IS SO ORDERED. SOSA, C.J., and WILSON, J., concur.