Court Opinion

ID: 9551002
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:46:30.535666+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:22:52.342752
License: Public Domain

Finley, J.
(dissenting)—In the instant case it seems to me that the respondents were mainly interested in injunc-tive relief, and that this, in effect, put the controversy on the so-called “equity side” of the court. However, the respondents also requested relief in damages and their costs. The trial court granted equitable relief and awarded damages plus costs. The majority, emphasizing the equity aspects, speaks of this lawsuit as being moot and cites cases of this court relative to dismissal of appeals in such instances. The majority opinion states:
*909“If the construction work on the particular project here involved is now completed, as it would seem it is, neither party could gain any benefit by our either affirming or reversing the judgment of the trial court. ...”
Lastly, the majority remands this case to the trial court for a determination as to whether the construction project here involved has been completed, and the trial court is directed to dismiss the action if the construction project has been completed. I think this completely overlooks the fact that $100 damages and costs have been awarded to respondents. In effect, the majority at the appellate level of this litigation seems to have split or compartmentalized the relief sought by plaintiffs and granted by the trial court, apparently viewing the injunction as equitable and the damages as legal in nature. Having thus, in effect, segregated the relief granted by the trial judge, the majority apparently finds it necessary to consider the damages as a separate matter, ostensibly concluding that the amount involved is insufficient to meet the constitutional jurisdictional requirement for appeal.
We have consistently held that the constitutional requirement of a $200 minimum for appeal to this court (Washington Const., Art. 4, § 4) does not apply to equity actions. Bradley v. Fowler (1948), 30 Wn. (2d) 609, 192 P. (2d) 969, 2 A.L.R. (2d) 822; Bowen v. Department of Social Security (1942), 14 Wn. (2d) 148, 127 P. (2d) 682; Ellison v. Scheffsky (1926), 141 Wash. 14, 250 Pac. 452; Fox v. Nachtsheim (1892), 3 Wash. 684, 29 Pac. 140. Thus, if an action is equitable in nature, the amount in controversy as to appellate jurisdiction becomes inconsequential. But, when equity assumes jurisdiction over the subject matter of an action and of the parties to be affected, it will retain jurisdiction for all purposes and grant whatever relief the facts warrant. Carstens Packing Co. v. Cox (1955), 47 Wn. (2d) 346, 287 P. (2d) 486; Hubbell v. Ward (1952), 40 Wn. (2d) 779, 246 P. (2d) 468; In re Schnoor’s Estate (1948), 31 Wn. (2d) 565, 198 P. (2d) 184. In the instant case the determination by the trial court that the union activity was unlawful provided the basis for the relief granted, and the injunction *910and damage relief are parts of the same ball of wax. Since the question of damages and the propriety of the injunction are so interrelated, it seems to me inappropriate for this court, in terms of appellate procedural technicalities, to separately consider and dispose of the two kinds of relief afforded by the trial court, particularly in light of the fact that such severance will probably result in a denial of any appellate review.
Normally, when there has been a legitimate assumption of jurisdiction, a court will not later engage in technicalities to defeat its own jurisdiction. This reluctance to disclaim jurisdiction is indicated by National Ass’n of Creditors v. Grassley (1930), 159 Wash. 185, 292 Pac. 416, wherein the appellant had three causes of action, each of which was for less than $200, and the court refused to sever them, treating them instead as an entity for the purposes of appellate jurisdiction.
The majority opinion ostensibly is predicated upon the assumption that the dispute with reference to the injunction may be moot, and, as mentioned above, the item of damages is simply relegated to obscurity. The rationale underlying the utilization of the doctrine of mootness seemingly is: (1) conservation of judicial time in avoiding advisory opinions and the answering of academic questions, and (2) the benefits of the adversary system, which is relied upon to present all the pertinent facts, policies and legal issues to the court, may be lost if a case is moot, as a party having nothing to gain may lack the incentive to prepare and present the case fully. Parenthetically, it should be noted that the briefs in this case evidence a thorough job of researching the law with reference to the merits of the controversy.
Even assuming, arguendo, that the building may have been completed and that the injunction issued in the instant case may no longer be effective, this does not deprive this court of jurisdiction under the theory of mootness. In Bowen v. Department of Social Security, supra, (p. 153), our court stated, with reference to a request for the dismissal of an appeal on the basis of mootness, “The rule *911does not rest upon a want of jurisdiction, but refusal to take jurisdiction of moot cases.” Hence, a determination of mootness does not mean that the court lacks jurisdiction; but rather, such a determination only serves to relieve the court from the necessity of rendering a decision on the merits when such a decision would not accomplish any purpose. The Supreme Court of Kansas expressed this thought in State ex rel. Anderson v. Engler (1957), 181 Kan. 1040, 317 P. (2d) 432, 434:
“However, since mootness does not affect the court’s jurisdiction, it will proceed to judgment whenever dismissal of an appeal adversely affects any rights vital to the parties, . . . ”
In the instant case, even if the effectiveness of an injunction is moot, the matter of damages—whether somewhat obscure or lurking—nevertheless still remains. Thus, although a part of the controversy may be considered as moot, certainly some rights of the parties remain for review and final adjudication by this court; namely the judgment for $100 and the costs against appellants, awarded to respondents in the trial court. For the reasons indicated I believe this court should render a decision on the merits of this controversy; consequently, I dissent.