Partee v. Goldberg

Wilkes, J. The question presented in this case is whether, after an answer has been filed as a cross bill, and has been replied to, and proof taken on the issues presented by the original and cross [665] bill, the complainant has the right to dismiss his original bill and take with such dismissal the cross bill, and thus terminate the controversy raised by it. It appears that complainants dismissed, the original bill, and afterwards, at the same term, defendants were permitted to have the case reinstated on the docket for the determination of the matters arising under the cross bill. The cause was then heard by the Chancellor upon the original bill, the answer and cross bill, and proof, and he held that neither the original nor cross bill was supported by the proof, and both were dismissed. The decree further adjudicated that the attempted dismissal of their suit by the complainants was ineffectual, and could not avail to take away the right of defendants to proceed on the cross bill. Complainants alone appealed. The Court of Chancery Appeals affirmed the decree of the Chancellor, and complainants appealed to this Court. The Court of Chancery Appeals report that the cross complainants did not appeal from the decree of the Chancellor dismissing their bill, and that complainants failed to make out by proof the fraud alleged, necessary to make out their case. So that the only question before us is the one already stated — whether the cross complainants were entitled to be heard on their cross bill after the complainants had dismissed their original bill. The cross bill made charges against complainants, arising out of the matter set up in the original [666] bill, and sought specific, and affirmative relief. The general rule is stated to be that the dismissal of the original bill carries with it the cross bill, as the latter is ordinarily considered merely ■ an auxiliary of, and' dependent on, the original bill, and this is certainly the case where the subject-matter of the cross bill is simply defensive of the case made by the original bill. 5 Enc. Plead. & Prac., 662, 663. But when the cross bill sets up additional facts relating to the subject-matter embraced in the original bill, but which facts are not alleged in the original bill, and asks affirmative relief, the dismissal of the original does not dispose of the cross bill, and the latter remains for disposition as if it had been filed as an original bill. 5 Enc. Plead. & Prac., 663; see cases cited in footnotes. Under our practice and the provisions of our statute (Shannon, § 6133), an answer filed as a cross bill has the same force and effect as if the defendant had answered and then filed a cross bill, and is not limited to the purposes of defense alone, but is an auxiliary suit for the purpose of enforcing rights growing out of the transaction involved in the original suit, but set up in the cross bill, and of bringing forward offsets and counter demands. Odom v. Owen, 2 Bax., 450; Nichol v. Nichol, 4 Bax., 158; Comfort v. McTeer, 7 Lea, 662. It is said, however, that there is a distinction between a cross bill proper and an answer filed as a cross bill upon the point of practice here involved. [667] It appears that Chancellor Cooper held, in 3 Tenn. Chan. Rep., 284, that a cross bill is simply defensive, and if the original bill is dismissed the defense necessarily fails also, and although a regular cross bill might in some cases be treated as an original bill, no such favor can be shown to an answer filed. as a cross bill, and in that case he held that the answer filed as a cross bill must go with the original bill, though it charged facts calling for affirmative relief. Chancellor East, in the Court below, held the same rule in Nichol v. Nichol, reported in 4 Baxter, 158, but the Supreme Court did not sustain this holding, but said the cross bill, and answer as a cross bill, stood on the same ground, and the dismissal of the original bill did not carry with it the answer and cross bill. In Fisher v. Stovall, 1 Pick., 316, it was held that even when there was no cross bill the original bill could not be dismissed without the consent of defendant in cases where there has been an interlocutory decree determining a right in favor of defendant against complainant, or deciding a matter in which -defendant has an interest. This is in accord with the general rule as laid down in Croft v. Johnson, 8 Bax., 394; 6 Enc. Plead. & Prac., 848. We are of opinion, therefore, that complainant did not have the power to deprive the defendant of the right to a hearing upon his cross bill by dismissing the original. The Chancellor heard the case on the matter set up in the original and cross bill, [668] and decided that cross complainants were entitled to no relief, and they did not appeal. The complainants also failed to sustain their original bill, both before the Chancellor and Court of Chancery Appeals, so that the only useful result of the litigation appears to be to adjudge the costs and settle a rule of practice which results in no substantial judgment for either party. The decree of the Court of Chancery Appeals is affirmed.