Opinion ID: 1983165
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: posture of case

Text: The record before us consists only of the pleadings. Therefore, the posture of the case is such that we determine only whether plaintiffs' amended petition states a cause of action under any of the theories pled on behalf of one or more plaintiffs against any one or more of the defendants. See, Moore v. American Charter Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn., 219 Neb. 793, 366 N.W.2d 436 (1985); Snyder v. Nelson, 213 Neb. 605, 331 N.W.2d 252 (1983). If it does not, the trial court's judgment must be affirmed. If, on the other hand, the petition does state a cause of action under any theory pled, the trial court's judgment must be reversed, for the party who moves for summary judgment has the burden of establishing that there exists no genuine issue as to any material fact or as to the ultimate inferences to be drawn therefrom, as well as the burden of establishing that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Moore v. American Charter Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn., supra ; Gall v. Great Western Sugar Co., 219 Neb. 354, 363 N.W.2d 373 (1985). Viewed in another way, the motion for summary judgment in this case is actually a motion for judgment on the pleadings, which is properly granted when it appears from the pleadings that only a question of law is presented. Like a demurrer, a motion for judgment on the pleadings admits the truth of all well-pleaded facts in the opposing party's pleadings, together with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom, and the moving party admits, for the purpose of the motion, the untruth of his own allegations insofar as they have been controverted. On such a motion the court may consider all the pleadings and give judgment for the party entitled thereto. Kent v. Insurance Co. of North America, 189 Neb. 769, 205 N.W.2d 532 (1973); Board of Trustees of York College v. Cheney, 160 Neb. 631, 71 N.W.2d 195 (1955). The making of a motion for judgment on the pleadings is not, however, a waiver of the right to trial of an issue of fact. Wittler v. Baumgartner, 180 Neb. 446, 144 N.W.2d 62 (1966), overruled on other grounds, State ex rel. Douglas v. Nebraska Mortgage Finance Fund, 204 Neb. 445, 283 N.W.2d 12 (1979). The record in this case is such that either a motion for summary judgment or for judgment on the pleadings explores the same ground and reaches the same destination.