Court Opinion

ID: 9844789
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:08:57.98983+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:43.145465
License: Public Domain

*152McFADDEN, Chief Justice
(concurring specially).
In his argument before this court appellant asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion for summary judgment for two reasons. This court determines, however, that the denial of the motion for summary judgment was proper inasmuch as certain factual issues existed bearing upon the legal questions presented. With this conclusion I have no disagreement and therefore I concur in the foregoing opinion.
However, serious doubt regarding whether the denial of appellant’s motion was properly before this court for consideration is presented by the conclusions reached by a majority of jurisdictions which have considered whether the denial of a motion for summary judgment can be reviewed in conjunction with an appeal from a final judgment. The majority rule is that the denial of such motion cannot be so reviewed on appeal from a final judgment. Boyles Galvanizing & Plating Co. v. Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co., 372 F.2d 310 (10th Cir. 1967); John Hancock Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Kraft, 200 F.2d 952 (2nd Cir. 1953); Dutton v. Cities Service Defense Corp., 197 F.2d 458 (8th Cir. 1952); Drittel v. Friedman, 154 F.2d 653 (2nd Cir. 1946); Bell v. Harmon, 284 S.W.2d 812 (Ky.1955) ; Home Indemnity Co. v. Reynolds & Co., 38 Ill.App.2d 358, 187 N.E.2d 274 (1963); Garver v. First Nat. Bank, 406 S.W.2d 797 (Tex.Civ.App.1966) ; Ackermann v. Vordenbaum, 403 S.W.2d 362, 15 A.L.R.3d 893 (Tex.1966). See also 15 A.L.R.3d 899 at 922.
Two basic reasons are given for the courts’ refusal to review a denial of a motion for summary judgment. Perhaps the most persuasive reason was stated by the Illinois Appellate Court in Home Indemnity Co. v. Reynolds & Co., supra:
“ * * * To deny a review seems to be unjust. But to grant it * * * would be unjust to the party that was victorious at the trial, which won judgment after the evidence was more completely presented, where cross-examination played its part and where witnesses were seen and appraised.
“The greater injustice would be to the party which would be deprived of the jury verdict. Otherwise, a decision based on less evidence would prevail over a verdict reached on more evidence and judgment would be taken away from the victor and given to the loser despite the victor having the greater weight of evidence. This would defeat the fundamental purpose of judicial inquiry.
“We hold that if a motion for summary judgment is improperly denied the error is not reversible for the result becomes merged in the subsequent trial.”' 187 N.E.2d at 278.
To the same effect are Bell v. Harmon, supra, and Ackermann v. Vordenbaum, supra.
The second reason for refusing to review the denial of summary judgment was stated by the Kentucky court in Bell v. Harmon, supra:
“The Federal appellate courts have recognized the limited scope of summary judgment procedure, and have consistently cautioned trial courts against granting motions for summary judgment if any doubt exists as to the right of a party to a trial. To hold that there may be a review of the trial court’s determination that a party is entitled to a trial would be inconsistent with this admonition to proceed cautiously when granting a summary judgment. It would put the appellate court in the position of trying the question of doubt in the mind of the trial judge. We do not think this, would be proper review.
“Our refusal to review an order denying a summary judgment can in no sense-prejudice the substantive rights of the party making the motion since he still has the right to establish the merits of his motion upon the trial of the cause. If the contrary were held, one who had sustained his position after a fair hearing of the whole case might nevertheless lose, because he had failed to prove his. *153case fully on an interlocutory motion.” 284 S.W.2d at 814.
It is to be noted that the holding in Bell v. Harmon was modified by Gumm v. Combs, 302 S.W.2d 616 (Ky.1951), which held that a denial of summary judgment could be reviewed on appeal from a final judgment if only an issue of law were involved rather than the issue of whether there was a genuine issue of material fact present.
It would seem that if a party were entitled to summary judgment that in most instances he would prevail at trial even though his motion for summary judgment was improperly denied. To reverse the findings of a trial court or the verdict of a jury for the opposing party in order to rectify an alleged mistake on the part of the trial judge in passing upon the motion for summary judgment would in the majority of cases be an injustice to the party who prevailed at trial. The motion for summary judgment is based upon only a written record, which is not fully developed, whereas upon trial, the fact finder, either the court or the jury, bases its determination upon all the facts to be presented and ■upon the actual testimony of witnesses. Following a trial on the merits, then, the court or jury is in a position to assess the ■entire record in light of the credibility and demeanor of the witnesses. In such case the sounder rule would appear to be that the party prevailing at trial should be entitled to rely on the result of the trial on the merits.
Issues of law presented by a motion for summary judgment are preserved when the same issues of law are inherent in any judgment rendered.
If for any reason the trial court should determine after trial that the judgment was in error and that the motion for summary judgment should have been granted the court can still rectify the error by granting a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. See I.R.C.P., Rule 50(b) (c).
It is my conclusion that the denial of a motion for summary judgment is not reviewable upon an appeal from a judgment entered after a full trial of the case on its merits. Although the question whether the denial of a motion for summary judgment is reviewable on appeal from a judgment entered after trial on all factual issues was neither raised nor briefed on this appeal, such a serious doubt is presented as to the reviewability of the issue that I felt compelled to discuss it.
DONALDSON, J., concurs in the foregoing specially concurring opinion.