Opinion ID: 1302950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial judge erred in granting ssi summary judgment as to cox's liability on ssi's conversion and constructive claims because damages for cox's counterclaim for conversion against ssi may exceed ssi's claims against cox

Text: Cox's last argument is that the trial judge erred in granting summary judgment in favor of SSI as to Cox's liability on SSI's conversion and constructive trust causes of action because damages for Cox's conversion claim against SSI could exceed the total amount of damages for SSI's claims against Cox. This argument is without merit. Some jurisdictions follow the rule that, where a meritorious counterclaim exists, which potentially exceeds in amount the plaintiff's claim, summary judgment should not be granted on the plaintiff's claim. See, e.g., Kirkpatrick v. First State Bank , 265 Ark. 285, 578 S.W. (2d) 28 (1979). We decline to adopt this rule. Instead, when summary judgment for the plaintiff on its claim is otherwise appropriate, we view it as proper to grant the motion despite the presence of a meritorious counterclaim. However, in order to protect the defendant, we follow those jurisdictions which prevent execution by the plaintiff on this judgment until the counterclaim is fully adjudicated. See, e.g., Elliott-Lewis Corp. v. Graeff , 11 N.J. Super. 567, 78 A. (2d) 591 (1951); Farmers Co-op. Elevator Co., Panora v. Knapp , 259 N.W. (2d) 762 (Iowa 1977). Hence, we reject Cox's contention that summary judgment for SSI was prevented by the presence of his counterclaim.