Court Opinion

ID: 9797174
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:14:42.675164+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:52:58.600585
License: Public Domain

*890OPALA, J.,
with whom KAUGER, J., joins, concurring.
T1 This controversy was spawned by misused labels. When Associated Resources, Inc., defendant below, asked for "summary judgment" it meant to secure the action's dismissal for want of a proper party plaintiff. The so-called "summary judgment" that was entered in this cause was in law but an order dismissing the claim because the plaintiff was not the real party in interest to bring the suit. The provisions of 12 0.8.2001 § 683 (3) authorize an action's dismissal "for want of necessary parties". The judicial action dispositive of this suit was hence not a "summary judgment" but rather a § 6838) order of dismissal.1
{2 Summary judgment is a "judgment on the merits".2 See statutory definition of judgment in 12 0.8.2001 § 681. It disposes of "the real or substantial grounds of action or defense as distinguished from matters of practice, procedure or form." (emphasis supplied) Flick v. Crouch, 1967 OK 131, 434 P.2d 256, 261. The term judgment connotes a final decision with a res judicata effect. When applied to a § 6888) dismissal order the use of the term "judgment" is a misnomer. Reams v. Tulsa Cable Television, Inc., 1979 OK 171, 604 P.2d 373, 375; Points v. Oklahoma Pub. Co., 1983 OK 62, 672 P.2d 1146. Because the invoked authority for allowance of counsel fee, the provisions of 12 O.S.2001 § 1101.1, is inapplicable to § 688(8) dismissal orders, the trial court's denial of an award must be affirmed.

. 12 O.S.2001 § 1116; Foreman v. Riley, 1923 OK 2, 211 P. 495, 496.

. "A judgment must not only determine the rights of the parties in an action, but must conclude all further inquiry into the issues joined by the pleadings and leave nothing further to be done except carry it into execution." (emphasis supplied) Foreman v. Riley, supra note 1; Wells v. Shriver, 1921 OK 122, 81 Okl. 108, 197 P. 460.