Court Opinion

ID: 7112625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:28:15.427102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:15.574322
License: Public Domain

Deemee, J.
The facts are not in dispute, and the only difficulty in the case is the application of the law thereto. Por some time prior to April of the year 1899, plaintiffs have been the owners as tenants in common of a tract of land in Blaekhawk county. About the date last named Ever-gene B. Smith, now deceased, claimed to have made a valid contract for the purchase of said land, entered into the possession and use thereof, and thereafter brought an action in *34equity for the specific performance of bis contract.' To that action defendants (plaintiffs herein) appeared and defended, denying the contract sued upon. They also filed a cross-bill, asked that title to the land be quieted in them, and for judgment against Smith for the value of the use, rents, and profits of the land while in his possession. IJpon trial in the district court the validity and sufficiency of Smith’s contract' was confirmed, a decree was entered for the specific performance thereof, and defendants’ cross-bill was dismissed. An appeal was taken to this court, with the result that the decree of'the lower court was reversed. See Smith v. Hogle, 116 Iowa, 645. It was the opinion of this court that the Smith contract could not be enforced, for the reason that it was made by but one of the cotenants without authority from the others, and for the further reason that there was a material alteration of the contract. Whilst no order for remand was made, a procedendo issued in due course, and, when the case again came up in the district court, a decree was entered therein against the plaintiff Smith dismissing her petition, and for the costs of the suit. In the meantime defendants (plaintiffs herein) filed a petition for a rehearing in this court, calling attention to the fact that no specific reference was made in the original opinion to the cross-bill for rents and profits, and asking that judgment be rendered in this court for the amount thereof, or that the cause be ordered remanded to the district court for such judgment. This petition was overruled generally and without any mention of the grounds for such ruling. Nothing more can be claimed for this than a petition for rehearing was overruled, and the cause, after the issuance of the pro-cedendo, was for disposition in the trial court in harmony with the opinion of this court. Neither the cross-bill to quiet title nor the claim for rents and profits was dismissed when the case was again called up for disposition in the trial court; but, as we have said, it went to decree, and the judgment *35was that plaintiff Smith’s petition be dismissed and that he pay the costs.
1. Appeal: trial de novo: judgment. While either of the parties is entitled upon a trial de novo to have a final decree entered by this court, yet, if the judgment is such as to affect the title to real estate, it should properly be entered in the court where the case was tried. Hait v. Ensign, 61 Iowa, 724. And in many such cases additional pleadings or new evidence in support of the issues as made may be introduced. Sweet v. Brown, 61 Iowa, 669; White v. Farlie, 67 Iowa, 628; Adams County v. Railroad, 44 Iowa, 335; Adams County v. Railroad, 55 Iowa, 94; Sanxey v. Iowa City, 68 Iowa, 542; Dunton v. McCook, 120 Iowa, 444; Brewer v. Hugg, 114 Iowa, 486; Leach v. Germania Co., 102 Iowa, 125. After judgment in the main case against Smith, defendants therein brought this action at law to recover for use and occupation and for rents and profits of the premises, and, Smith having died in the meantime, his administratrix was made a party defendant. She appeared and answered, pleading the record in the former case as a prior adjudication, and upon a showing of the matters hitherto mentioned the district court sustained her motion for a directed verdict.
2. Same: reversal: subsequent proceedings. In disposing of the appeal, we shall have occasion to consider, first, the effect of the final decree in the trial court; and, second, the effect of the opinion of this court, and more especially of the ruling upon the petition for a rehearing. After a reversal of an equity case by this court, where no final decree is rendered and the case is or should be remanded because it involves the title to real estate or a procedendo issues with directions to enter a proper decree in the trial court in accord with the opinion of this court, the case stands precisely as any suit in equity between the submission and the entry of the decree, for such decision as should be entered upon the pleading and evidence as they stand, unless, for good cause *36shown, the trial court permits an amendment to the pleadings or the introduction of additional testimony under the rules hitherto announced. Adams County v. Railroad, 44 Iowa, 335. Upon appeal the judgment is affirmed, modified and affirmed, or reversed. Upon affirmance, the' trial court has nothing further to do with the case, but, if modified and affirmed, or reversed and no final decree is entered in this court, the case goes back to the district court, and, as we have said, ordinarily stands as a case submitted and ready for a decree by the trial court in accord with the opinion of this court except "where, as we have stated, additional pleadings or testimony may be introduced. Indeed, no procedendo from this court is necessary to authorize the trial court to re-docket the case and proceed with it in a proper manner. Becker v. Becker, 50 Iowa, 139; State v. Knouse, 33 Iowa, 365. After the time for the filing of a petition for a rehearing has expired, either party may on notice to the other have the case redocketed and properly disposed of. See cases last above cited. We shall assume, then, in disposing of the first proposition submitted for our decision, that the original case went to trial on the issues already stated, was submitted and went to a decree dismissing plaintiff Smith’s petition at his costs; the defendants therein not having withdrawn their cross-bill or claim for rents and profits, but permitting the same to remain in the case, and for some reason not caring to introduce evidence in support thereof, or for reasons best known to them waiving a decree upon their cross-bill.
3. Res judicata. What effect does such a decree have upon their right to prosecute another action for rents and profits during the time plaintiff in that suit was in possession of the property ? Manifestly but one answer can, as we think, ^ ma(je †0 this inquiry. Of course, defendants in the original suit — plaintiffs in this — were not required to plead their cross-action either to quiet title or for rents and profits, but having done so, and failing to dismiss *37the same before final decree, the judgment is conclusive upon them, as much so as if they had introduced evidence in support thereof and for some reason had failed to recover. Hayden v. Anderson, 17 Iowa, 158; Schmidt v. Zahensdorf, 30 Iowa, 498; Gunsaulis v. Cadwallader, 48 Iowa, 48; Street v. Beckman, 43 Iowa, 496; Painter v. Hogue, 48 Iowa, 426; Goodhue v. Daniels, 54 Iowa, 19; Newly v. Caldwell, 54 Iowa, 102; Carl v. Knott, 16 Iowa, 379; Whitaker v. Johnson Co., 12 Iowa, 595; Hahn v. Miller, 68 Iowa, 745; Madison v. Coal Co., 114 Iowa, 56; Zalesky v. Home Ins. Co., 114 Iowa, 516; Kenyon v. Wilson, 78 Iowa, 408; Case v. Hicks, 76 Iowa, 36; Des Moines v. Bullard, 89 Iowa, 749; Donahue v. McCosh, 81 Iowa, 296; Hodge v. Shaw, 85 Iowa, 137; Keokuk Co. v. Keokuk, 80 Iowa, 137. The cross-bill interposed in the original case came within paragraph 2 of section 3570 of the Code, which provides for a counterclaim of a cause of action arising out of the contracts or transactions set forth in the petition or connected with the subject of the action. In other words, the counterclaim in this case is what is known as a “ set-off.” It seems to be well settled that, if a defendant having a demand against a plaintiff pleads it as a set-off or counterclaim in the action, he must, to use an expression from the books, “ make the most of his opportunity, and exhibit his whole damage, for the judgment in the action will prevent him from afterwards using the same matter or any part of it as a separate cause of action against the former plaintiff.” Munn v. Shannon, 86 Iowa, 363; Gunsaulis v. Cadwallader, supra. See, also, cases cited in 23 Cyc. 1201, showing that this rule is common to nearly all jurisdictions.
In some States it is provided that, if the demand or cross-claim arises out of the transactions set forth in the complaint as the foundation of plaintiff’s action or is connected with the subject of the action, defendant must present it as a set-off or forfeit his right to claim relief upon it. Brosnan v. Kramer, 135 Cal. 36 (66 Pac. 979); Douglas v. Hastings, *3817 Minn. 35 (Gil. 18). But that does not seem to be the rule here unless the matter be pleaded. Had there been no appeal of the original case, that action would have stood upon plaintiffs petition for specific performance, defendant’s denial of the validity of the contract, a counterclaim to quiet title, and a set-off or counterclaim for rents and profits during the time the plaintiff in that action was In possession. The case was tried without any withdrawal of the counterclaims or set-offs, resulting in a decree dismissing plaintiff’s petition at his costs. The decree met the issues presented, and involved and without a dismissal of the counterclaim or set-off the decree disposed of these as effectually as it did of the petition. This is squarely held in the Gunsaulis case, supra, the syllabus of which reads as follows: “ Where a counterclaim is embraced in the issue at the time of final submission and judgment, the plaintiff is entitled to immunity from any further action thereon.” This rule is also squarely announced in the Munn case, supra. Schmidt v. Zahensdorf, 30 Iowa, 498, is also very closely in point; and we quote the following therefrom: “ The plaintiff in his petition averred the facts constituting his right to, and made a claim against defendants for use and occupation of the land in controversy to the extent of $300. This claim was-denied by the defendants. With the issues thus made the case was submitted to the court. The judgment entry recites that, ‘ there being no evidence offered by either party as to the value of the rents and profits, the same is not considered, and no judgment hereby rendered touching the same.’ The action for the rents and profits was not dismissed, nor the claim therefor withdrawn. The defendants having been thus once compelled to litigate the question and prepare for this defense, they have a right to judicial immunity from being again required to answer the same claim. The judgment will be so modified as to make the same final against plaintiff’s claim for rents and profits.”
These cases must be squarely overruled, or else it must *39be beld that the decree in the original case by the trial court is a bar to plaintiff’s action in this case. One way of stating'the rule which is well fortified by authority is that “ an' adjudication is final and conclusive not only as to the matter actually determined, but as to every other matter which the parties might have litigated and have had decided as incident to or essentially connected with the subject-matter of litigation.” See Freeman on Judgments, section 249; Dewey v. Peck, 33 Iowa, 242; Stodghill v. Railroad, 53 Iowa, 341; Wellson, Res Adjudicata, section 217. The counterclaim in the instant case was embraced in the issue at the time of the submission and judgment in the main or original case, and, to quote from the Gunsaulis case, “ defendant is entitled to immunity from any further action thereon.” See, as further sustaining these views, Prouty v. Mattheson, 107 Iowa, 259; Watson v. Richardson, 110 Iowa, 698; Murphy v. Cuddihy, 111 Iowa, 645; Madison v. Coal Co., 114 Iowa, 56; Zalesky v. Home Ins. Co., 114 Iowa, 516; Hodge v. Shaw, 85 Iowa, 137; Keokuk Co. v. Keokuk, supra.
No testimony was introduced upon the trial of the present case showing just what was decided by the trial court in the decree in the original case. That is to say, there is no showing that the counterclaim or set-off was not considered passed upon. It may be that the trial court was in error in not rendering judgment-for the defendants in the original case, plaintiffs in this — and this seems to be the fact — but whether in error or not plaintiffs are concluded by the judgment or decree in that case. It is not the correctness of the original decree, but the fact that the parties are the same, that the same matter was involved and might or should have been decided which makes the original decree conclusive. The decree in the original case was a finding that plaintiff therein, defendant here, had no valid contract for the land. The counterclaim pleaded this fact, and asked for judgment for use and occupation. Plaintiff’s right to recover herein is based upon the same identical issue and the same facts *40which would establish plaintiff’s right to recover here would have defeated the action by plaintiff in the main case. That issue was unquestionably determined in the main or original suit.
4. Actions:multiplicity of suits. Plaintiffs herein and defendants in that suit now ask a judgment to the same effect, and also ask damages for rents and profits or for use and occupation. Under another well-known rule, this they are not entitled to do. A party cannot split up his cause of action or defense, and try it in piecemeal. Zalesky v. Insurance Co., 114 Iowa, 516, and cases cited. This is not a case where several and distinct issues are presented, of which some were considered and some not. The issues were all related, and all depended upon whether or not Smith had a valid contract for the purchase of the land. If he did, he was entitled in the main action' to a decree of specific performance. If he did not, defendant was entitled to a decree dismissing the petition, quieting title, and for judgment for use and occupation of the premises. In their pleadings in the case now before us, they set forth most of the same facts relied upon by them in defense to the main suit, and they must show the invalidity of Smith’s contract in order to recover. That they had already secured in the main case, but they neglected to take judgment quieting title or for damages. This is nothing more, in our opinion, than a splitting of causes of action. Our own cases are so clear and plain upon these propositions that we need not go elsewhere for authorities. Certainly the citations already made are numerous enough and surely they are conclusive upon the proposition here involved. Whatever other courts may have decided upon this or kindred questions is of very little concern, where our own cases speak so clearly upon the subject.
*415. Res Judicata: petition for rehearing. *40II. We come, now, to the effect of the ruling on the petition for a rehearing. Little is claimed for this, save as it bears upon the other proposition already discussed. The ruling made thereon has perhaps a triple aspect. It may *41have been overruled because there was no evidence as to value of use and occupation or of rents and profits, or because the matter was for the determination of the district court upon testimony to be there introduced, or because the case involved title to lands, and final decree should be entered in the district court. Nothing in the record shows the reasons for overruling the petition. If the petition for rehearing should be treated as an adjudication regarding the rights of defendants in the main suit, plaintiffs in this, to recover rents and profits whether in this court or in the district court, then this controversy is at an end. Plaintiffs herein evidently thought they had a right to have this matter considered by us on rehearing for this was the sole ground of their petition; they having been successful as to the other issues in the case. The correctness of the decision in no manner affects the question of former adjudication. If, on the other hand, this court concluded that the petition should be , overruled because of lack of testimony, or because this .court was not the proper place for the final decree, then we have a somewhat different proposition to deal with.
The petition proceeded upon the theory that there was testimony as to the value of the rents and profits or of use and occupation, and doubtless this is true, else no such request would have been made of us, and the petition was probably overruled, because, as the case involved the title to real estate, the final decree should be rendered in the district court. If there was no testimony as to the value of rents and profits or of use and occupation, then the petition was properly overruled, and upon a proper showing to the district court such testimony might and should have been admitted; but if, as is more likely the case, and as the petition for rehearing itself shows, there was testimony introduced on the 'original hearing to justify a recovery on the counterclaim, then the petition was overruled, for the reason that the final decree should be entered in the district court. That being *42tbe case, after tbe reversal and tbe overruling of tbe petition for rebearing, tbe case stood as submitted upon tbe evidence then taken without tbe withdrawal of any of tbe counterclaims for a proper decree under tbe issues and tbe testimony. The decree was as we have stated, and there is nothing to show that defendants therein, plaintiffs herein, offered any additional testimony or objected in any manner to the decree as rendered. Even had they done this, their proper remedy would have been by appeal, and not through the commencement of an independent proceeding. We cannot too strongly present the notion that the correctness of the judgment or decree is not the test whereby to determine whether or not it amounts to a former adjudication.
Summing up on this proposition: If the petition for rehearing properly raised the issue as to defendants right in the main action to recover for use and occupation or for rents and profits, that is the end of the case, for the petition was overruled. If it did not, then the reversal of the case here simply left it in the district court as one already submitted upon issues joined, none of which were withdrawn, and for a decree upon the pleadings and testimony as the case then stood, subject to the holding of this court upon appeal. Testimony had already been taken as to the value of rents and profits or of use and occupation, or none such had been introduced, and it matters little which is true, for in either -event the issues were related in such a manner and so stood when the case was finally disposed of that the decree dismissing the petition was binding upon all parties as to all matters in issue. The decree was not- by agreement, nor did Smith dismiss his case. It was decided by the trial court after the procedendo was returned and upon all the issues and testimony in the case. We feel sure that there was testimony in the record which would have warranted a judgment and decree for defendants in the main case, plaintiffs in this, for damages for rents and profits, else these defendants would not have presented the petition for rehearing that they did *43asking for such a judgment in this court. But, however this may be, we are not justified in assuming that there was no such testimony, especially where there is nothing of record showing that'fact. We must take "the pleadings as they stood when the final decree in the main ease was entered, and construe them with reference to that decree. This done there was manifestly a complete adjudication of the matters in controversy here. This presumption, if such it may be called, although it might well be denominated by a stronger word, is very emphatically aided by the petition for rehearing which was filed by defendants in the main case, wherein they asked this court to render judgment for them for the value of the rents and profits of the land while plaintiff therein held possession. Without such testimony, they wpuld not have had the temerity to present such- a paper for our consideration. Doubtless the trouble in this case is due to counsel’s misunderstanding of the effect of the overruling of their petition for rehearing. They evidently thought for some reason that they could let the original case go to a decree, and then commence an independent action for rents and profits; for the reason that this court would not allow them upon the appeal.
There are many reasons why such a decree should not be rendered in this court. In the first place, as already indicated, the action involved the title to lands, and the final decree should be entered where the land is situated. Again, the case was decided in favor of Smith, the purchaser, in the lower court, and plaintiffs here were decreed to make specific performance. Testimony as to rents and profits and use and occupation would be confined to the time of trial in the district court, and there would be no showing as to values after that trial and down to the time of the reversal here. Moreover, no such showing could be made without a supplemental petition, and that could not be filed in this court. Upon demand to the district court, the title would be adjudicated and the party entitled to rents and profits accruing in *44tbe interim pending tbe appeal might file a supplemental petition, and have tbe whole matter adjudicated in one action. It is unfortunate if our ruling on the petition for rehearing misled either the parties or their attorneys; a mistake which we regret, but are powerless to correct, if we confine ourselves to the well-established rules heretofore announced by this court.
Before closing, it is well to note again the vital distinction between this case and some from other States and doubtless some of our own where distinct and unrelated issues are presented and the record does not show upon which the decision turned. In such cases parol evidence is sometimes admissible to show that a particular one was not passed upon or decided. See Am. Em. Co. v. Fuller, 83 Iowa, 606; Griffith v. Fields, 105 Iowa, 362, and other like cases. But that is not the situation here. Here the issues were all related. If plaintiff Smith had a good land contract, he was entitled to specific performance thereof, and defendants in the main suit were not entitled to have their title quieted or a money judgment for damages. Judgments by estoppel must be mutual, so that, had the decree been for Smith, that would have ended defendants’ counterclaims. If-that be true, then the decision being the other way is likewise conclusive. If Smith did not have a valid contract, then under the issues defendants Ilogle et al. were entitled to have his, Smith’s petition dismissed, their title quieted, and a money judgment for damages. They secured a part of this relief in the main action, and, instead of appealing therefrom, or asking more in that proceeding, they accepted the results thereof, and then commenced action for the same relief which they had asked and were entitled to, but did not receive in the former case. This is clearly a splitting of causes of action, and to our minds a case where neither Smith nor his administratrix should be made to defend again against a claim already once presented, and never withdrawn. If a defendant presents a counterclaim embracing items, all more *45or less related, and fails to prove up as to some or to introduce testimony as to others, no one would contend that he might thereafter bring an independent action for those items which he neglected to prove. There is always some difficulty with this question of former adjudication, due at times to refinement of reasoning, and to a desire to assist parties who are concluded by a judgment which it seems hard for them to bear. But it must constantly be borne in mind that there is always danger that “ hard cases may make bad law,” and it is well to keep principles well in mind in such cases no matter what the result in the particular instance.
The order of the trial court directing a verdict for defendant and the judgment entered thereon are correct, and they are affirmed.