Court Opinion

ID: 9587232
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:19:44.204155+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:56.713583
License: Public Domain

Whitman, Judge,
concurring specially. I concur in the judgment of reversal only. This is an appeal by the appellant-defendant from a pre-trial order certified for review, the notice of appeal being from the "ruling that the effect of a certain release, a copy of which is attached to said order, is to place a limitation on the issues to be tried in this case and on. the evidence which defendant will be permitted to introduce.” The pre-trial order, inter alia, stated "the court is of the opinion that the release, if received into evidence on the trial of the case, would bar the defendant from relying on any claim of lack of professional competence or the exercise of care on the part of the plaintiff [appellee] ... or damages arising therefrom, as a defense to plaintiff’s claim whether by way of showing a failure of consideration or otherwise, or as a basis for the counterclaim set up by the defendant. . . This being so, the defendant cannot now reassert such claims either by way of a direct claim or as setoff or defense to any other claim which the plaintiff might have.” Thereupon and predicated thereon the court, by order and judgment stated:
"It is therefore ordered: (1) That the question of the plaintiff’s failure to furnish competent professional services or to exercise due' care in the preparation of the design and in the preparation of plans and specifications for the mill and in the supervison of the construction thereof will not be an issue on the trial of the case if the release is introduced in evidence, and that evidence to support such issue will not be admitted. (2) The issues to be tried (assuming the release is admitted in evidence) will be: A. Was there a contract between plaintiff and defendant for the payment of compensation for architectural services. B. If there was such a contract, what was the contract. C. If there was no contract, what was the reasonable value of the plaintiff’s services.”
Appellant’s enumeration of errors assigns as error the pre-trial *100order, and particularly paragraphs 1 and 2 thereof in six numbered particulars.
I am of the opinion that under and by virtue of Code Ann. § 56-408.1, the judgment of reversal in this case is correct, but it is my view that on the trial of the case in the court below the case should be heard factually on the plaintiff’s complaint as amended, and the defendant’s defenses thereto.