Ferguson v. Millender

BRANNON, Judge. In an action of assumpsit in the Circuit Court of Wayne county by S. J. Ferguson against J. H. Millender, Jacob Zouck, and W. H. Grothe, as partners in the name of J. H. Millender & Co., process was served on Millender and Zouck but not on Grothe. Millender and Zouck appeared and pleaded, but Grothe did not appear; and there was a trial and verdict for plaintiff for $1,374.94 and judgment 'against the defendants. Afterwards Grothe moved the Circuit Court to reverse such judgment, assigning in his notice as causes for such reversal, that he had not been served with process had no notice of the action and had not' appeared therein. The Court overruled this motion, and he obtained this writ of error. It is shown to this court, that since the granting -of the writ of error Millender has by- payment to Ferguson satisfied his demand, and Millender and Zouck ask the dismissal of the writ, while Grothe opposes, dismissal and demands a decision of the cause. A preliminary question is: Shall -this 'Court dismiss the cause or hear it on the merits ? Generally it- is true, that there must be a matter in controversy during the entire progress of a suit from its inception to final determination both in the lower and appellate court — something on -which the final judgment is to operate; and when it appears-, that- the cause of action has ceased to exist by its discharge, and thus the error complained of is waived or removed, or that it has been released, both courts will stop in the cause, and this Court will dismiss the appeal and will not pass on- the- question of costs, since the right as to costs can only be decided on a full hearing, which hearing the Court will refuse for the reason just stated, [32] But this seems to be an exceptional case. While the controversy as between Ferguson and his alleged debtors has been discharged, yet, if as between Grothe and his copart-ners it is res judicata, — if the judgment fixing a liability in favor of Ferguson against the copartners is binding still on Grothe, — he would have to bear his share of it in the way of contribution in the settlement of the partnership accounts and has a right to call on this court t.o consider his writ of error. It is settled, that if a party sue out a writ of -error from a judgment against him, and the judgment is affirmed, the judgment of the' appellate court affirming the judgment of the lower court has all the force of res judicata: and makes that judgment binding. Armstrong v. Poole, 30 W. Va. 669, (5 S. E Rep. 257); Camden v. Werninger, 7 W. Va. 528; Campbell v. Campbell, 22 Gratt. 649; Henry v. Davis, 13 W. Va. 252; Mason v. Bridge, Co., 20 W. Va. 223; Board v. Barsons, 24 W. Va. 551; Newman v. Mollohan, 10 W. Va 505. If it is a joint judgment, it is binding as a judgment even on parties, who did not appeal and were not served with the appellate process. Newman v. Mollohan, Id. 488. And section 5 of chapter 134 of the Code having made the Circuit' Court the forum for Ihe reversal of judgments for error, for which this Court but for that statute would reverse, in case of judgment by default, performing for this purpose the same function which otherwise would be performed by this Court, the judgment of the Circuit Court overruling the motion to reverse, adjudging against the party asking the reversal all his points of error, is logically likewise res judicata and makes valid the judgment, unless the action of the Circuit Court overruling the motion to reverse be itself reversed by this Court. Thus the action of the Circuit Court overruling Grotlie’s motion to reverse the judgment overruling the grounds assigned by him for its reversal, in effect making the judgment, though void before, valid and binding on'him under the doctrine of res judicata, entitles him to have the decision of this Court upon the merits of his writ of error. • We hold that the rendition of judgment generally against all the defendants — Grothe not having been served with process or appearing in the suit — is error. There should have been service of process on all the partners for judgment against [33] all. Pars. Partn. §§ 1085, 1086; Carlon’s Adm’r. v. Ruffner, 12 W. Va. 297. The judgment being joint must be reversed in tolo. Midkiff v. Lusher, 27 W. Va. 439; Hoffman v. Bircher, 22 W. Va. 537; 2 Tuck. Bl. Comm. 333; Vandiver v. Roberts, 4 W. Va. 493. For these reasons the judgment of the Circuit Court of AYayne county rendered on the 14th day of June, 1887, overruling Grothe’s motion to reverse the original judgment and the original judgment of the said court rendered on the 2d day of June, 1887, must both be reversed, and the verdict of the jury rendered on the 1st day of June, 1887, must be set aside, and the plaintiff in error must recover of the defendant in error his costs in this Court and his costs about said motion in said Circuit Court. Capehart v. Cunningham, 12 W. Va. 759. This cause is not remanded, as the matter of controversy has been discharged, and the action is dismissed. Dismissed.