Court Opinion

ID: 6548131
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:21:23.627906+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:01.718816
License: Public Domain

McCueeoch, C. J. The plaintiff, Ed Turrentine, instituted this action in the circuit court of Monroe County against the defendant railway company to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by reason of the negligent acts of defendant’s servants in the operation of its trains. He had previously instituted four successive actions in other circuit courts of the State, based on the same alleged cause of action (two of the actions being removed to the Federal courts), and dismissed each one in turn before final submission. He was a minor when some of the actions were instituted, but was of full age when the present, one was instituted. The defendant claims to have expended the sum of $783.35 in costs before said former actions were dismissed, and filed a motion in the present action to require plaintiff to pay the costs of the former actions as a condition on which he would be permitted to prosecute this action. The court sustained the motion. Plaintiff excepted, and then asked to be permitted to prosecute the action in forma pauperis, which request was denied by the court. The plaintiff declined to pay the costs of the former actions or to secure the costs of the present one, and the court ordered a dismissal of the case. Plaintiff appealed. The only statutes of this State requiring litigants to give bond for cost are -directed against nonresidents of the State and corporations other than banking corporations, and against guardians and next friends suing for infants and persons of unsound mind, and assignees other than indorsees of bills of exchange and promissory notes. Kirby’s Digest, § § 959, 962. There is no statutory authority for requiring resident litigants to give bond, except those especially enumerated above. Officers are not required to perform services for litigants without payment of fees in advance, except in cases which the court allows persons to prosecute in forma pauperis. The ruling of the court requiring plaintiff either to secure the costs of this action or pay the costs of the former actions was unauthorized. Courts may, in their discretion, impose such ■terms upon the setting aside of an order of dismissal for want of prosecution; but the statute unconditionally permits the bringing of a new action after the voluntary dismissal of a former action, and the court can not impose a condition on the exercise of that right. There are decisions of other courts holding to the contrary, but we are not without authority in support of the conclusion we reach, which we think is -in 'harmony with the statutes of this State authorizing the dismissal of actions without prejudice to the bringing of -another action for the same -cause. Hobbs v. Louisville, H. & St. Louis Ry. Co., 31 Ky. Law Rep. 452, 102 S. W. 818; Wilson v. Sullivan (Ky.), 112 S. W. 1121; Davenport, Rock Island & N. W. Ry. Co. v. DeYeager, 112 Ill. App. 537. Decisions per contra are collected in 11 Cyc. 255, et seq. We do not mean to say that it is beyond the power of a trial court to dismiss an action found to have -been instituted not in good faith, but vexatiously, for -the purpose of harrassing and annoying the adversary party. This would be an abuse of process, which the court could correct by -dismissal -of the action. But such is not the present case. There is nothing to show that -the plaintiff did not -bring his action in good faith, and the court did not so find. The order of dismissal was rendered because plaintiff -did not and could not pay the costs of the former action. Reversed and remanded with directions! to overrule the motion to dismiss, and for further proceedings in the case.