Court Opinion

ID: 9864466
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 13:12:49.365102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:12:35.994333
License: Public Domain

McCulloch, C. J., (on rehearing). Appellants insist that we should, for guidance in the further proceedings on remand of the cause, decide whether or not the court erred in sustaining a demurrer to the counterclaim for damages and in refusing to allow appellants to amend. We assume that the court’s refusal to permit an amendment was based on the fact that the offer to amend was not made in apt time — not until the trial had b§eu, commenced. It was thus a matter of discretion, and, since we have remanded the 'Cause for further proceedings, it is not important to determine whether or not there was, under the circumstances, an abuse of discretion by the court. The circumstances will be different when the case goes back to the trial court, for appellants will have .an opportunity to present the amendment in apt time without interfering with the preparations for trial, and it is to be assumed that the court will fairly exercise its discretion by allowing an amendment properly' presenting a counterclaim. This view of the matter makes it unnecessary to determine whether or not the original counterclaim stated a cause of action. The statute permits a counterclaim against the plaintiffs or either of them in any action for the recovery of money. Coats v. Milner, 134 Ark. 311; Smith v. Glover, 135 Ark. 531. If appellee broke the contract, which is an issue in the case, appellants are entitled to recover any damages which, under settled principles of law, proximately resulted from such breach.