Court Opinion

ID: 9576732
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:27:52.90775+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:14:02.411503
License: Public Domain

VAN CISE, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent.
On the facts and the pleadings in this case, it is a very close question whether the nature of this suit is one at law or in equity. However, even if the majority is correct in concluding that the complaint is basically in equity and that, therefore, the trial court erred in denying lessees’ motion to strike the jury demand, I would not consider that error as a basis for reversal. As stated by Justice Hall in Jaynes v. Morrow, 144 Colo. 138, 144, 355 P.2d 529, 531 (1960):
“Trial by jury, a cherished appurtenance to our judicial process, is not bad per se, and abuses or failures, when they occur, are subject to correction by the court. Prejudicial error cannot arise out of permitting a jury to pass upon questions of fact.”
Inasmuch as the other contentions of alleged error were not properly raised for appellate review, I would affirm the judgment.