Court Opinion

ID: 9545267
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:09:11.245416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:24.783367
License: Public Domain

SUTIN, Judge (specially concurring). I specially concur. Judge Lopez’ opinion decides that plaintiffs’ present action is not barred because res judicata, collateral estoppel, satisfaction of judgment, merger and election of remedies, being defenses raised by United Service Automobile Association (United), are not effective. United’s claims are affirmative defenses to plaintiffs’ claim for relief. Section 21-1-1(8)(c), N.M.S.A., 1953 (Repl. Vol. 4). They are not issues on this appeal. In the order that sustained United’s motion for summary judgment, the trial court found: 1. That the motion of defendant United Service Association is well taken and should be granted. Here, again, we have no knowledge of the reasons why the summary judgment was granted. Plaintiffs point to five hotly disputed questions of fact. If these issues of fact had been presented to the trial court in oral argument, with requested findings submitted, and findings made, it would have assisted this Court on the precise issues involved in this appeal. Constant repetition of this advice has been ineffective because the Supreme Court arbitrarily decided that findings are unnecessary when summary judgment is entered. Garrett v. Nissen Corporation, 84 N.M. 16, 498 P.2d 1359 (1972). This does not mean, however, that a district judge is denied the right to state the reasons for granting summary judgment. This is not done because district judges feel secure in silence. In civil cases, a proceeding to obtain summary judgment is perfunctory. A motion is filed, arguments are made, judgment is entered and an appeal taken. The record is silent on the entire proceedings that ended in final judgment. Silence is Not Golden. A trial judge should lay his cards on the table. Appellate courts should do the same. A record of the hearing should be taken and presented to this Court on appeal. It is a serious matter because summary judgment throws a party out of court. On appeal, in the absence of a record, we are told what the hotly contested issues of fact were below, what arguments were made, what comments were made by the court and the basis upon which the entry of the final judgment was made. We should be given the tools with which to complete the job. In my opinion, a final summary judgment is equivalent to a final judgment entered by the trial court in a case heard without a jury. Rule 52(B) of the Rules of Civil Procedure [21—1—1(52)(B), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 4)] should be followed. On review, this Court will not have to search a haystack for a needle. “He who must search a haystack for a needle is likely to end up with the attitude that the needle is not worth the search.” Brown v. Allen, 344 U.S. 443, 537, 73 S.Ct. 397, 425, 97 L.Ed. 469 (1953), Justice Jackson, concurring. On appeal, if we know precisely what the contested issues of fact were below, our review would be a simple undertaking. All that we know from the final order is “that the claim, cause of action and complaint of the plaintiffs” were dismissed with prejudice. It sounds like “For plaintiffs, for whom the three bells toll.” “A civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.” Section 21-1-1(3). For the chameleon like nature of the phrase “cause of action,” see People’s Mercantile Co. v. Farmer’s Cotton Finance Corp., 38 N.M. 237, 31 P.2d 252 (1934). A. This Court has jurisdiction of this appeal. United’s Supplementary Statement of Proceedings uses 12 pages to note lack of jurisdiction to hear this appeal. United’s position is based upon procedures that occurred in a prior appeal of this case on summary judgment. On July 12, 1976, the trial court first granted United summary judgment. In the same order, it denied Devlin and T-B-L the right to summary judgment. On July 23, 1976, plaintiffs gave notice of appeal. On September 27, 1976, plaintiffs filed their brief in chief. On October 1, 1976, United filed a motion to dismiss the appeal. One of the points raised was: To dismiss, as otherwise non-appealable because the Order did not then include the magic words “there is no just reason for delay.” Section 21 — 1—1(54)(b)(1), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl. Vol. 4, 1975 Supp.). Plaintiffs failed to call to this Court’s attention that Rule 54(b)(2), not 54(b)(1), supra, was applicable; that the magic words were not necessary where multiple parties were involved. Nevertheless, this Court on October 15, 1976 erroneously granted United’s motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction, citing in support thereof, Marquez v. Wylie, 78 N.M. 544, 434 P.2d 69 (1967). Marquez was not in point. It did not involve Rule 54(b). This case was remanded to the district court. This Court erred in dismissing the first appeal. The mandate provided that “the cause is remanded to you for any further proceedings consistent with said decision.” On remand, the case below rested in the district court in the same position it had prior to the first appeal- — with an appealable order that was held non-appealable. On October 21, 1976, shortly after receipt of this Court’s Mandate, plaintiffs filed a motion in the district court to amend the order to include the magic words. On March 14, 1977, the trial court in its discretion granted the motion, and on the same day entered the amended order from which this appeal was taken. This Court has jurisdiction to hear this “final” order on the merits. United asserts that it objected to the order that granted plaintiffs’ motion to amend the “unappealable order.” This does not appear of record. However, we accept United’s assertion that it objected. This probably caused a delay of five months in the entry of the “final” order from which this appeal was taken. United now contends that a delay of eight months from the date of the original order, “simply as an accommodation to appellants herein, represents an abuse of discretion of the trial court.” Such a contention offends the conduct and reputation of the district judge. We need only turn to a maxim of reverence: “De Fide et Officio Judiéis non recipitur Quaestio, sed de Scientia sive sit Eror Juris sive Facti.” (“The bona fides and honesty of purpose of a judge cannot be questioned, but his decision may be impugned for error of law or of fact.”) Broom, Selections of Legal Maxims, 60 (5th Am.Ed.1864). United questions the purpose of the district judge in allowing plaintiffs to amend even though the district judge awarded it summary judgment. United’s cited authority holds that where the appeal is dismissed, and for three months, plaintiffs made no effort to obtain a Rule 54(b) determination, the making of a determination and entry of judgment one year after the entry of the order appealed from, is an abuse of discretion. Schaefer v. First Nat’l Bank of Lincolnwood, 465 F.2d 234 (7th Cir. 1972). This case is not applicable. Plaintiffs were not negligent in seeking an amended order. Schaefer was not followed in Williams v. City of North Las Vegas, 91 Nev. 622, 541 P.2d 652 (1975). The court said: In the interest of preserving, when justice requires, a litigant’s right to “his day in court,” we would not set a specific period of time within which one must seek a Rule 54(b) order or lose his right to interlocutory appeal. [91 Nev. at 625, 541 P.2d at 654] It would be helpful on appeal if the district court would make a brief reasoned statement in support of its determination. We would then be spared, if raised, a determination of whether the trial court abused its discretion in this troublesome piecemeal appeal. Gumer v. Shearson, Hammill & Co., Inc., 516 F.2d 283 (2nd Cir. 1974). “On review, this court may examine whether the district court’s conclusion that there was no just reason for delay was an abuse of the trial court’s discretion.” United Bank of Pueblo v. Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co., 529 F.2d 490 (10th Cir. 1976). In the instant case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion. It determined that plaintiffs, if allowed, should have the right to pursue their claim against three defendants in one trial. B. Summary judgment was erroneous. United’s lengthy dissertation on the propriety of the summary judgment centers on whether Devlin had express or apparent authority to bind United to a settlement or to authorize repairs to plaintiffs’ property. Reliance is had primarily on Clark v. Foremost Insurance Co., 80 N.M. 584, 458 P.2d 836 (1969). Clark was not a summary judgment case. Trial was had before the court. “Authority to bind” was an issue of fact. The court found that there was no settlement agreement between Clark and defendant’s adjuster due to lack of authority, either actual, implied or apparent on the part of the adjuster to settle with Clark on the basis of the claimed agreement. In the instant case, an issue of fact exists.