G. M. Leasing Corp. v. Murray First Thrift & Loan Co.

ELLETT, Justice: G. M. Leasing sued Murray First Thrift for selling two automobiles held by it as security for a loan and for doing so without giving proper notice to the plaintiff and because they were sold for an inadequate consideration. The sale was made to a dealer in Los Angeles, California. For reasons not stated in the record counsel for G. M. Leasing withdrew, and new counsel was obtained. Discovery proceedings were undertaken, and counsel for G. M. Leasing was requested to file answers to interrogatories and to produce records. Counsel needed time to secure the material from Los Angeles and also desired to take a deposition of the purchaser and of the person to whom the cars were sold. Counsel for Murray First Thrift moved for the production of documents and for answers to interrogatories and served the motion on G. M. Leasing’s counsel on June 19, 1974. Counsel for G. M. Leasing then agreed if the answers were not filed and the documents made available by July 12, 1974, the action might be dismissed with prejudice. On June 28, 1974, the court entered an order that G. M. Leasing respond to the demands by July 12, 1974, and that failing such response the action would be dismissed. On July 3, 1974, counsel for Murray First Thrift gave notice of taking the depositions of the purchaser of the automobiles and the ones to whom he sold them. These depositions had previously been set several times but had never been taken. The time schedule for taking the depositions as noticed caused more difficulties. The answers to interrogatories and production of documents had not been made by July 12, 1974, and Murray First Thrift moved the court for dismissal of the action pursuant to the prior order. Within two days the answers to interrogatories were filed with the court, and the documents requested were made available to Murray First Thrift. On July 19, 1974, the motion to dismiss was heard, and the trial court after hearing the arguments granted the motion to dismiss, but without prejudice. Murray First Thrift argues that the dismissal had to be pursuant to the agreement of counsel theretofore filed with the court, to wit: “With Prejudice,” and this appeal involves that one proposition. Sanctions for refusal to comply with an order of court or for failure to respond are set out in Rule 37, U.R.C.P., and are discretionary with the court. Courts are reluctant to dismiss a case with prejudice unless it is upon the merits. In the instant matter the documents and answers were not readily available to officers of the corporation because the president had disappeared in 1973, and the new management was not conversant with the answers to some of the interrogatories propounded. In the absence of an abuse of discretion, we should not undertake to substitute our idea of what is proper for that of the trial court. The law is stated in 5 Am.Jur.2d, Appeal and Error, as follows: Decisions reached in the proper exercise of such discretion have frequently been said not to be within the proper scope of appellate review, and it is clearly the ordinary practice of the appellate courts to refuse to review the exercise of such discretion except for abuse.1 ****** . [A] discretionary determination may be “reviewed” only in the case of a “gross,” “clear,” “plain,” “palpable,” or “manifest” abuse of discretion. .2 We fail to see that the trial court acted improperly in any of the matters proscribed above as being an abuse of discretion, and therefore affirm his ruling as made. [1246] Costs are awarded to the respondent. CROCKETT and MAUGHAN, JJ., concur. Footnotes [1] Section 772. [2] Section 774.