Opinion ID: 2028187
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: nature of district court's ruling

Text: Because the judgment entered in this case is silent as to the adjudication of Westendorf's setoff and counterclaim, our first task is to determine what exactly the district court ruled. While in the absence of an ambiguity the effect of a judgment must be declared in light of the literal meaning of the language used, see Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Beaty, 242 Neb. 169, 493 N.W.2d 627 (1993), if the language is ambiguous, there is room for construction, Bokelman v. Bokelman, 202 Neb. 17, 272 N.W.2d 916 (1979). In ascertaining the meaning of an ambiguous judgment, resort may be had to the entire record. See, Whaley v. Matthews, 136 Neb. 767, 287 N.W. 205 (1939); Burke v. Unique Printing Co., 63 Neb. 264, 88 N.W. 488 (1901). Moreover, there is authority, which we adopt, for the proposition that silence in a judgment with respect to any demand which was an issue in the case under the pleadings constitutes an absolute rejection of the demand. Sun Finance Co., Inc. v. Jackson, 525 So.2d 532 (La.1988). Given the foregoing rules and the record with which we are presented, as summarized in part IV below, the effect of the district court's judgment is the same as if the court had carefully detailed that it found for Label Concepts on its petition, entered judgment thereon in the sum of $3,680.32, further found for Label Concepts on Westendorf's setoff and counterclaim, and dismissed said setoff and counterclaim.