Opinion ID: 2614930
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: maturity of appeal as to tog, txo and usx

Text: TOG, TXO and USX urge that the Grider's appeal was filed prematurely. The trial court announced his decision to TXO and TOG in a letter on January 17, 1990. This letter did not include anything regarding USX. Later, on March 6, 1990, the trial court issued an order with regard to TOG and TXO, incorporating the January letter. He also, at that time, issued an order sustaining USX's motion to dismiss, in which no reference was made to the January letter. Clearly no decision as to USX was made until March 6, 1990. Grider had filed his petition-in-error on February 15, 1990, and thus before any adjudication as to USX. The Court of Appeals held that the appeal was premature as to USX. In Oklahomans for Life, Inc. v. State Fair, 634 P.2d 704, 706 (Okla. 1981), we held that when an entire cause of action is resolved against one of several parties, that resolution is final and appealable. We held that failure to appeal from such a summary judgment would result in a final judgment in favor of the moving party. Id. [5] Oklahomans for Life supports the Court of Appeals' ruling that the petition-in-error was timely filed with regard to all defendants but USX. All issues raised against the other defendants were resolved by the trial court's letter of January 17. The petition-in-error was filed after this decisional letter, but within the time prescribed. We agree with the Court of Appeals' ruling on this question. The only claim remaining was that against USX. No judgment was rendered as to USX until March 6. The March 6th order does not refer to or incorporate the prior decision rendered in the earlier letter. The petition-in-error was premature as to USX because no judgment had been rendered as to USX. The appeal must be dismissed as to that defendant. See State ex rel. Trimble v. City of Moore, 818 P.2d 889, 895 (Okla. 1991). We disagree with the assertion of TXO and TOG that the petition-in-error was also premature as to them. They make the argument that plaintiff's appeal was premature because it was filed prior to the order of March 6 which memorialized the trial court's decision of January 17. However, this Court has consistently held that under the statutes in effect until January 1, 1991, the time period for filing a petition-in-error began to run when the court pronounced its decision. Miller v. Miller, 664 P.2d 1032, 1034 (Okla. 1983). A judgment or order begins its legal life as soon as it is pronounced from the bench and before it is ever reduced to writing for entry of record by the clerk. Depuy, 775 P.2d at 1343. [6] Here, the decision was rendered on January 17, and the trial court merely directed the memorialization of the judgment to be written by the parties. The appeal was timely as to TOG and TXO.