Court Opinion

ID: 9792053
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:22:25.06474+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:40.378644
License: Public Domain

Donworth, J.
(dissenting in part) — I concur with the majority in affirming the judgment of the trial court as to the dismissal of the first and third causes of action.
As to the second cause of action, in my opinion, this court has no jurisdiction to entertain this appeal. This cause of action is based bn an assignment by Joseph W. Kosten to appellant of a claim for wages in the amount of $147.58. The only information in the record as to the nature of this assignment is contained in paragraph II of the second cause of action, which reads as follows:
“Prior to commencement of this action, Joseph W. Kosten duly and regularly assigned in writing to this plaintiff his claim against the defendant for wages due in the sum of $147.58 plus accrued interest.”
The reasons for my opinion that we have no appellate jurisdiction of the second cause of action are stated in the dissenting opinion in McDowell v. Farwest Garments, 41 Wn. (2d) 412, 249 P. (2d) 372 (1952), where the pertinent decisions of this court are reviewed.
There is no allegation in the second cause of action that the assignment authorized appellant to bring suit on the claim in his own name and, the amount involved being less than $200, this court has no jurisdiction under our holding in Smaby v. Shrauger, 9 Wn. (2d) 691, 115 P. (2d) 967 (1941). But, even if the assignment did authorize appellant to sue on the claim in his own name, I would still dissent for the reasons stated in the dissenting opinion in the McDowell case.
Jurisdiction over the subject matter cannot be conferred by consent or by failure to object thereto. On the face of the record, we have no more power to review the action *596of the trial court than does the House of Lords. We should act sua sponte in refusing to entertain the appeal as to the second cause of action. To do otherwise is to usurp functions which the people, in adopting Art. IV, § 4, of the state constitution, have denied us.