Court Opinion

ID: 9549113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:13:31.793334+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:19:52.486827
License: Public Domain

Schroeder, J.,
dissenting: In my opinion the appellant has failed to make it affirmatively appear from the record that the trial court committed prejudicial error.
On the record presented by this appeal the law set forth in the court’s opinion has no application.
In the lower court the appellee moved the court for an order consolidating three cases (Case Nos. 13,329, 13,330 and 13,331, in two of which separate appeals have been perfected to this court. The appellant in each of the three cases was represented by the same counsel in the trial court and in the appeals to this court.) “for trial for the reason that the interest of justice will be served by such consolidation, and that a failure to consolidate the three cases will only resolve in higher expenses to all parties and the court in the trial of the issues.” (Emphasis added.)
The trial court sustained the motion to consolidate and entered an order dated the 27th day of September, 1963, to that effect. The “Order of Consolidation” recited that “arguments” were presented on the motion.
If it could be said the record discloses an objection to the consolidation, it must arise from such recital in the order, and then only by a strained construction of the word “arguments.” Upon argument of the case before this court counsel for the appellee contended there was no disagreement between counsel as to the consolidation of these cases in the lower court. The difference of opinion between counsel for the respective parties on this point must be resolved by the record presented, and in my opinion the mere recital that there were “arguments” on the motion to consolidate is insufficient to disclose any objection by the appellant to the consolidation of these cases. The burden is upon the appellant to affirmatively disclose an objection by a sufficient record on appeal.
Nothing further appears in the record to disclose any objection to the consolidation of these cases. In this connection, attention is invited to the “Findings and Order of Pretrial Conference.” Under the heading “Jurisdiction” in such order the court noted all parties were in the district court of Marion County, Kansas, and recited: *237“The Court ordered consolidation of all three of the above captioned cases.”
Under the heading “Contested Issues of Law” in the pretrial order the consolidation of the three cases was not mentioned as an issue in controversy. The issues specified were: (a) negligence on the part of the defendant; (b) contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiffs; and (c) the question of joint venture as to the plaintiffs.
Attention is also invited to instruction No. 8 given by the court. It reads:
“You are instructed that it is your duty as jurors in this matter to determine the following facts:
“1. Whether the defendant, Ervin E. Pereboom, was guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the collision.
“2. Whether the plaintiff John A. Gardner III was guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the collision.
“3. Whether the plaintiff, Danny L. Gardner, was guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the collision.
“Having considered the above three items, then the following instructions are given you to help guide you to a decision in this matter, to-wit:
“First: If you find from the evidence that the sole and only proximate,cause of the accident was negligence of Ervin E. Pereboom, and that neither John A. Gardner, III or Danny L. Gardner was guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the accident, then you should return a verdict for John A. Gardner, III, in his case for whatever injury and damages, if any, you find he suffered as a result of the collision.
“You should likewise return a verdict on behalf of Danny L. Gardner, in his case, for whatever injury or damage, if any, you find he suffered as a result of the accident.
“You should likewise return a verdict in favor of Evanne Gardner for the medical expenses, if any, you find that she has incurred in behalf of Danny Gardner.
“Second: If you find from the evidence that the sole and proximate cause of the accident was the negligence of John A. Gardner, III, and that Ervin E. Pereboom was not guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the accident, then you should simply return a verdict in favor of Ervin E. Pereboom and against all of the plaintiffs, to-wit: John A. Gardner, III, Danny L. Gardner, and Evanne Gardner.
“Third: If you find from the evidence that the accident was caused proximately by the negligence of both John A. Gardner, III, and the defendant, Ervin E. Pereboom, and that plaintiff Danny L. Gardner was not guilty of contributory negligence which was a proximate cause of the accident or his injuries, if any, then in that event, you should bring in a verdict for Danny L. Gardner in the amount of the damages, if any, that he received in the accident. In the event you find in favor of Danny L. Gardner, you should then also bring in a verdict for Evanne Gardner in the amount of the medical expenses, if any, she had on behalf of Danny L. Gardner.
*238“Fourth: If you find from the evidence that the accident was proximately caused by the combined negligence of Ervin E. Pereboom, John A. Gardner, III, and Danny L. Gardner, then the law will not assess the damages against any one of them, but will leave them where it finds them, and you should simply return a verdict in behalf of the defendant Ervin E. Pereboom and against all parties.”
No objection having been made by either of the parties to this instruction, it became the law of the case insofar as the consolidation of the cases is concerned and as to the law stated therein.
Furthermore, the record does not disclose that instruction No. 8 was called to the trial court’s attention as erroneous at the hearing on the motion for a new trial.
It is therefore respectfully submitted the record in the instant case fails to make an affirmative showing that the appellant objected to the consolidation of the three cases in question.
It is an established rule of this court that a party cannot invite error in the trial court and rely upon such error in the appellate court for a reversal of the judgment.
The trial court had jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter, and if it was error to consolidate these cases, the appellant has failed to make it affirmatively appear by the record that prejudicial error has been committed.
The evidence presented by the record was sufficient to support a verdict in favor of the appellee, Ervin E. Pereboom, and against the plaintiff in each of the three actions which were consolidated for trial. There was evidence from which the jury could find, and apparently did find, that the appellee was not guilty of any negligence which was a proximate cause of the collision.
It is therefore respectfully submitted the judgment of the lower court in the instant appeal should be affirmed.
Price and Fatzer, JJ., join in the foregoing dissent.