Brennan v. Maule

REYBURN, J. — In an action for slander in two counts, in the second of which both actual and punitive damages were prayed, a jury returned as its verdict the following : “We the jury in the above-entitled cause find in favor of the "defendant on the issues joined in the first count of the petition, in accordance with the instructions of the court. “And we find in favor of the plaintiff on the issues joined in the second count of the petition and assess his actual damages thereon at the sum of —--dollars. And we assess his pimitive damages at the sum of one hundred ($100) dollars.” Upon judgment on this verdict an execution was issued at the succeeding term of court. Thereupon defendant filed a motion to quash such writ of execution, assigning that it was a nullity and void; that the judgment upon which it was based was for defendant for actual damages and for plaintiff for punitive damages, and the court was without authority or jurisdiction to enter judgment against defendant, and for the overruling of this motion, this appeal is taken. It is now settled in this State that actual damages in at least a nominal sum must be found as a condition for the recovery of exemplary or punitive' damages, Hoagland v. Amusement Co., 170 Mo. 335, 70 S. W. 878. But the judgment for such reason, as in this proceeding is not void, but at most voidable as supported by [339] a verdict irregular and defective. It is doubtful whether a judgment is ever entirely void unless there appears a total absence of jurisdiction to render it, but the- judgment herein was merely erroneous and liable to be reversed, if not by the trial court when its attention was directed properly and' seasonably to the infirmity, then by a higher court on appeal. But a judgment, rendered by a court of general jurisdiction, having jurisdiction of the parties, although erroneous or irregular, unless set aside by the tribunal in which it was rendered, or reversed in proper proceeding, can not be impeached or attacked by a party thereto collaterally. As stated by the United States Supreme Court: “The doctrine of this court, and of all the courts of this country, is firmly established, that if the court in which the proceedings took place had jurisdiction to render the judgment which it did, no error in: its proceedings which did not affect the jurisdiction will render the proceedings void, nor can such errors be considered when the judgment is brought collaterally into question.” McGroon v. Scales, 9 Wallace 23. If the policy of the law were otherwise, a judgment, though unreversed and not appealed from, would no longer .be a final adjudication upon the rights of the parties thereto. “The rule against collateral impeachment applies to every judgment, order, decree or judicial proceeding, of whatever species, that is not absolutely void.” 1 Black, Judgments (2 Ed.), secs. 170, 245, 246. The judgment herein indirectly attacked became conclusive after the lapse of the term at which it was rendered, and a motion to quash the execution issued at the next and succeeding term was too late, as well as not the proper method of correcting such error. Hathaway v. Railway, 94 Mo. App. 343, 68 S. W. 109. The judgment is affirmed. . All concur.