Opinion ID: 2619544
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Severance of Claims of Dubois Electric, Richard Equipment, and Teton Crane and Transport Co.

Text: Willamette and Jackson raise an important question when they argue that the court erroneously ordered the claims of Dubois, Richard, and Teton to be severed from the case, that additional evidence be taken on such claims, and the trial of them continued. In its original judgment the trial court dismissed the three claims but after argument of counsel in supplementary memorandum stated that examination showed competent evidence had not been before the court allowing it to determine the legal effect of a compromise and settlement of the lien claims by United and entered an order severing these claims from the consolidated case and ordering the trial on the claims continued. Little would be gained by alluding to or analyzing the contentions of the different parties as to the legal effect of the compromise by United, which the claimants' counsel admitted to have been made, since the order that the trial continue was fatal to the finality and appealability of the judgment in the cause. Wheatland Irrigation District v. Two Bar-Muleshoe Water Company, Wyo., 431 P.2d 257, 259; State ex rel. Pacific Intermountain Express, Inc., v. District Court of Second Judicial District, Sweetwater County, Wyo., 387 P.2d 550, 552; Reeves v. Harris, Wyo., 380 P.2d 769, 770. The supplementary memorandum opinion stated, In examining the files and evidence admitted, it appears that there is no competent evidence before the court to consider and determine the legal effect of such compromise and settlement, if any. This statement as well as the preceding argument of various counsel indicated the impropriety of an express determination that there was no just reason for delay of the judgment until the claims were settled unless the court should prior thereto have resolved the ultimate liability of the property owner against whom the liens had been filed. In any event, however, there was no compliance with Rule 54(b), W.R.C.P., and the judgment was accordingly not final or appealable.