Opinion ID: 1612933
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Right to Replead.

Text: The trial judge gave a number of reasons for sustaining the defendants' demurrers. One of these was his belief that the action was barred by the two-year statute of limitations contained in sec. 330.21 (5), Stats. 1963 (now renumbered sec. 893.21 (5)). In our opinion, the learned trial judge erred in applying the statute of limitations governing unpaid wages rather than applying sec. 330.19 (3), Stats. 1963 (now renumbered sec. 893.19 (3) ), which is a six-year statute of limitations for actions on a contract. We believe that the latter statute providing a sixyear statute of limitations governs this dispute over the effect of the collective-bargaining contract under the recent ruling of this court in Tully v. Fred Olson Motor Service Co. (1965), 27 Wis. (2d) 476, 134 N. W. (2d) 393. The latter case does not appear to have been brought to the attention of the trial judge. As noted at the outset of this opinion, the trial court dismissed the action without prejudice and also ordered  the demurrers sustained without leave to plaintiff to replead. The quoted clauses would seem to be somewhat inconsistent; at least, there is an ambiguity whether the plaintiff is free to commence another action. Normally he would be free to do this when his action is dismissed without prejudice. However, insofar as the order forecloses him from the right to replead, it is arguable that the trial court meant not only to snuff out the candle but also to bar the plaintiff from ever relighting it. We recognize that the plaintiff was previously given an opportunity to reframe his complaint and that it is discretionary with the trial court whether the plaintiff should be permitted to plead over. Pedrick v. First Nat. Bank of Ripon (1954), 267 Wis. 436, 441, 66 N. W. (2d) 154; Chris Schroeder & Sons Co. v. Lincoln County (1943), 244 Wis. 178, 182, 11 N. W. (2d) 665. However, the trial court may have been influenced in its denial to the plaintiff of leave to replead by a mistaken conception regarding the statute of limitations. We affirm that portion of the trial court's order which sustained the demurrers, but we remand this matter to the circuit court with directions to clarify its order insofar as there appears to be a conflict between the denial of the right to replead and the direction that the dismissal is without prejudice. The trial court is directed to reexamine the question of permitting the plaintiff to replead in light of our comments regarding the applicable statute of limitations. Upon such reexamination, the trial court shall exercise its discretion to determine whether the plaintiff shall be given an opportunity to plead over or whether further pleadings on his part shall be barred. Both of the respondents shall be chargeable with costs upon this appeal, but we hold that the plaintiff shall be limited to taxing only one half of his appeal costs. By the Court. Order affirmed in part and reversed in part. Cause remanded with directions.