Brackin v. McGannon

Mr. Special Justice Glare delivered the opinion of tbe Court. This is a suit for damages brought by the plaintiffs, H. T. Brackin and wife, against the defendant. Dr. M. C. McGannon, for alleged malpractice. After the introduction of all of the evidence the defendant moved the court to direct the jury to return a verdict for the defendant. This motion was argued before the court at some length, whereupon the court suggested that he was of the opinion that the motion would have to be sustained, but adjourned court until another day of the term in order to give counsel an opportunity to examine authorities and to further consider the motion. Upon the reconvening of court, and before the court had acted on the motion of defendant, the plaintiffs moved the court to permit them to take a nonsuit. The motion of plaintiffs was resisted by defendant. After hearing argument on the motion for a nonsuit, the trial court was of the opinion the latter motion came too late, and it was overruled, and defendant’s motion for a directed verdict was- granted, and judgment entered accordingly. The plaintiffs moved for a new trial, which motion being overruled, they appealed to the court — 209 — of civil appeals, and in that court assigned as error the action of the trial court in overruling their motion for a nonsuit, and also the action of the trial court in sustaining defendant’s motion for a directed verdict. The court of civil appeals was of the opinion that the trial court should have granted plaintiffs’ motion for a nonsuit, and the motion was granted in that court; hut, being of the opinion that the granting of the motion for a nonsuit made it unnecessary to pass on the assignment of error going to the action of the trial court in granting the motion for peremptory instructions, that court declined to pass on that assignment of error. Both parties filed petitions for writs of certiorari to the court of civil appeals, which were heretofore granted and the cause has been ably argued at the bar of this court. For the plaintiffs it is insisted that the court of civil appeals was in error in not passing on the assignment of error going to the action of the trial court in granting defendant’s motion fot' a directed verdict and in not reversing the judgment of the trial court in that respect. The defendant assigns as error the action of the court of civil appeals in sustaining plaintiffs’ motion for a nonsuit. The provisions of Shannon’s Code, sections 4689 to 4691, inclusive, are as follows: “4689. The plaintiff may, at any time before the jury retires, take a nonsuit or dismiss his action as to any one or more defendants, but if the defendant — 210 — Pas pleaded a set-off or counter-claim, be may elect, to proceed on sucb counterclaim in tbe capacity of a plaintiff. ’ ’ “4690. Tbe defendant may,.in like manner, withdraw bis counterclaim at any time before tbe jury-retires to consider of tbeir verdict.” ‘4691. If tbe trial is by tbe court instead of tbe jury, tbe nonsuit or dismissal provided for in tbe last two sections shall be made before tbe cause is finally submitted to tbe court, and not afterwards.” It will be observed that section 4689, supra, provides that plaintiff may, at any time before tbe jury retires, take a nonsuit or dismiss bis action. This statute was construed in tbe case of Railroad v. Sansom, 113 Tenn., 683, 84 S. W., 615, and it was there held that by tbe retiring of the jury is meant tbe point of time when the case is submitted to them ‘ ‘ to consider of tbeir verdict.” See also Dodd v. Railroad, 120 Tenn., 440, 110 S. W., 588; Littlejohn v. Fowler, 5 Cold., 284. It is also settled by tbe decisions of this court that a motion for peremptory instructions, even where made by both parties to tbe suit, does not operate to withdraw tbe case from tbe jury. Sucb a motion simply has tbe effect of calling upon tbe trial judge to determine whether there is any substantial conflict in tbe evidence, and, if be decides there is no substantial conflict, be then directs the jury to return a verdict in accordance with the law as applied to tbe undisputed facts. If tbe trial judge should be of tbe opinion there is substantial — 211 — conflict in the evidence, the motion is overruled, and the case goes to the jury to be decided by it on the evidence under the charge of the court. Hardware Co. v. Hodges, 126 Tenn., 370, 149 S. W., 1056; King v. Cox, 126 Tenn., 553, 151 S. W., 58. But it is insisted by defendant that the rule permitting the plaintiff to take a nonsuit simply by the making of a motion for same before the jury retires to consider of its verdict has been changed, and' that the rule now is that plaintiff is not entitled to have his motion for a nonsuit granted, after a motion by defendant for a directed verdict, unless the plaintiff can show good cause for asking a nonsuit, and the case of Barnes v. Noel, 131 Tenn., 126, 174 S. W., 276, is relied on as supporting this proposition. This insistence of defendant is .not supported by the authority relied on. In the case of Barnes v. Noel, supra, there were two trials of the case before it reached the appellate court. Upon the first trial the defendant made a motion for peremptory instructions, which was overruled, the case submitted to the jury, and a verdict returned ip favor-of plaintiff. Defendant made a motion for a new trial setting out the action of the trial judge in overruling his motion for a directed verdict as one of the grounds for same. A new trial was granted, but defendant’s motion for a directed verdict was not sustained. The defendant took a wayside bill of exceptions. On the second trial the plaintiff attempted to take a nonsuit, which was resisted by defendant on the ground that the — 212 — effect of same, if granted, would be to deprive Mm of bis rights preserved by Ms wayside bill of exceptions taken at the former trial. The trial court declined to permit plaintiff to take a nonsuit, the case was tried, and there was" a verdict for defendant. The plaintiff appealed, and assigned as error the action of the trial court in overruling Ms motion for a nonsuit. What this court held was that the right of defendant to have tested by the appellate court, the judgment of the trial court in overruling his motion for a directed verdict on the first trial, and which had been preserved by a wayside bill of exceptions, was a substantial right that the court would not permit plaintiff to defeat by taking a nonsuit over the objections of defendant. Barnes v. Noel, supra. It has never been held by this court that plaintiff must show some good ground or sufficient reason for a nonsuit before being entitled to same. There is a wide difference between requiring plaintiff to show good cause in support of Ms motion for a nonsuit, and iii denying Ms motion where ij; appears that the granting of it would prejudice the rights of the defendant by depriving him, of some right that he has become vested with during the pendency of the case, and which right he could not avail himself of in another suit growing out of the same matter. The right to take a nonsuit is a right given by statute to plaintiff, and is such a right, when- duly exercised, as cannot be taken from him by the defendant by the making of ■ a motion for a directed verdict. Sprankle v. Meyernick (Civ. App.), 4 Hig., — 213 — It results that there is no error in the judgment of the court of civil appeals, and the judgment of that court is affirmed.' We do not deem it necessary or proper to pass on the assignment of error of plaintiffs going- to the action of the court of civil appeals in refusing to consider the question of the action of the trial judge in granting defendant’s motion for a dirécted verdict. The effect of the judgment rendered in this court, without passing on the facts of the case, is to nullify the judgment of the trial court on the motion for a directed verdict, so that judgment will not stand in the way if another suit should be brought. The cost of the trial court and the cost of the appeal will be paid as adjudged by the court of civil appeals. Each party will pay the cost of his petition to this court.