Opinion ID: 1130389
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the trial court erred by dismissing Hamblin Jr. from the suit.

Text: Robinson asserts that the trial court improperly dismissed Hamblin Jr. since nothing appears from the record that Hamblin Jr. was formally dismissed until the trial court entered judgment. Additionally, Robinson purports that Hamblin Jr. was a proper defendant in the action because he occupied the mobile home together with Hamblin Sr. and in that capacity owed certain duties of care toward Robinson. We cannot accept these arguments. After careful review of the record, we find it was clear from the start of the trial that the court no longer considered Hamblin Jr. to be a part of the suit. During jury selection the judge stated that Hamblin Sr. was the defendant in the suit, without mentioning Hamblin Jr.'s name. Further, when the court introduced Hamblin Jr. to the jury, the judge stated: The gentleman that walked into the courtroom and sat at counsel table for the defense is Stephen Hamblin, Edwin Stephen Hamblin. At one time, Stephen Hamblin was a defendant in this lawsuit but he no longer is. At no time during the trial did Robinson object to the dismissal of Hamblin Jr. Therefore, Robinson is precluded from bringing this issue on appeal. As mentioned supra, a matter not litigated or documented in the lower court cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. Squaw Mountain Cattle Co. v. Bowen, 804 P.2d at 1296; Matter of Estate of McCue, 776 P.2d at 745.