Tar Heel Hosiery Mill v. Durham Hosiery Mills

OoNNOk, J. Summons was issued and complaint filed in tbis action on 25 September, 1929. Before tbe time allowed by law for tbe filing of a demurrer or of an answer to tbe complaint bad expired, tbe defendant moved tbe court to strike certain allegations from tbe complaint on tbe ground (1) tbat said allegations are irrelevant and immaterial to tbe cause of action alleged in tbe complaint; (2) tbat tbe reading of said irrelevant and immaterial allegations at tbe trial and in tbe presence of tbe jury would be bigbly prejudicial to tbe defendant, and (3) tbat tbe presence of said allegations in tbe complaint would render admissible at tbe trial evidence not pertinent to tbe issues wbicb will be determinative of tbe rights and liabilities of tbe parties to tbis action. Tbe motion was in writing and was made in apt time. C. S., 537. Tbe first question presented for consideration by tbis Court is whether defendant’s appeal from tbe order denying its motion is premature. It has been held by tbis Court tbat a motion by defendant tbat plaintiff be required by amendment to make certain allegations of bis complaint more definite, when tbe motion was made after demurrer or answer filed, is addressed to tbe discretion of tbe court and tbat its action on tbe motion is not ordinarily reviewable by tbis Court on appeal. Hensley v. McDowell Furniture Co., 164 N. C., 148, 80 S. E., 154. Tbis principle is applicable to a motion to strike from tbe complaint matter wbicb is irrelevant or redundant. Where such motion is made after tbe defendant has filed a demurrer, or an answer to tbe complaint, it is addressed to tbe discretion of tbe court. No appeal lies from tbe order of tbe court, allowing or denying tbe motion. An exception to tbe order will be considered by tbis Court only on an appeal from tbe final judgment in tbe action. Where, however, tbe motion has been made in apt time and in accordance with tbe provisions of C. S., 537, it is not addressed to tbe discretion of tbe court, but is made as a matter of right. Tbe order of 'the court, whether allowing or denying tbe motion, in such case, is subject to an appeal to tbis Court. An appeal from tbe order, where appellant has duly excepted thereto, will be beard by tbis Court. It will not be dismissed, but will be considered and decided on its merits. In tbe instant case, tbe order having been made on a motion made in apt time, and in accordance with tbe provisions of tbe statute, tbe appeal therefrom is not premature, and will not be dismissed for tbat reason. *598 The order in this case, denying the motion of the defendant, is interlocutory. Ordinarily, no appeal lies to this Court from an interlocutory order made in an action pending therein by the Superior Court. An exception to the order, taken in apt time, will be considered on an appeal from the final judgment in the action, when such exception is duly presented on said appeal If, however, an interlocutory order affects a substantial right of a party to the action, and is prejudicial to such right, he may appeal therefrom to this Court, and his appeal will be heal’d, and decided on its merits. Skinner v. Carter, 108 N. C., 106, 12 S. E., 908. If the order does not affect a substantial right of the appellant, his appeal therefrom to this Court will be dismissed. War ren v. Stancil, 117 N. C., 112, 23 S. E., 216; Leak v. Covington, 95 N. C., 194. In the instant case, if the order from which defendant has appealed, although interlocutory, affects a substantial right of defendant, to its prejudice, its appeal will not be dismissed, but will be considered and decided on its merits. We are of the opinion that no substantial right of defendant has been impaired or affected to its prejudice, by the refusal of the court to allow its motion on the ground either that the reading of the allegations which defendant contends are irrelevant and immaterial to the cause of action alleged in the complaint, at the trial and in the presence of the jury, will prejudice defendant, or that the presence of such allegations in the complaint will render admissible evidence not pertinent to the issues which will be determinative of the rights and liabilities of the parties to this action. The jury will be instructed by the court to consider only the evidence offered at the trial and to answer the issues in accordance with •the facts as they shall find them to be from the evidence. Upon objection by the defendant, the court will exclude evidence which is not pertinent to the issues which will be submitted to the jury. There was no error in the refusal of the court to allow defendant’s motion on either of these grounds. If, however, any of the allegations referred to in defendant’s motion are irrelevant or immaterial to the cause of action alleged in the complaint, they should be stricken from the complaint. The complaint should contain a plain and concise statement of the facts which constitute the cause of action upon which plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant. C. S., 506. If matter is alleged therein which is irrelevant, immaterial or redundant, defendant has a right to have same stricken from the complaint and there was error in the refusal of its motion, made in apt time, and in accordance with the provisions of C. S., 537. A defendant when called upon to file a demurrer or an answer to a complaint, has the right to demand that the complaint shall be drawn in accordance with the provisions of the statute, and shall not *599 contain matter which, is irrelevant or redundant. Where- the complaint does contain such matter, the’ statute affords the defendant his remedy. Upon consideration of the allegations of the complaint, which defendant contends are irrelevant and immaterial, we are of the opinion that the contention cannot be sustained except as to the allegations contained in paragraph 8. These allegations constitute no' part of the cause of action alleged in the complaint upon which plaintiff demands judgment against the defendant. There was error in the refusal of the court to strike these allegations from the complaint. There was no error, however, in the.refusal to strike out the other allegations. While probably not essential to the cause of action, it cannot be held that as a matter of law they are irrelevant and immaterial.’ ,• The order should be modified in accordance with'this opinion. As thus’ modified, the order is Affirmed.