ALL COMP CONST. CO., LLC v. Ford, 93,272.

Citation2000 OK CIV APP 38,999 P.2d 1122
Decision Date25 February 2000
Docket NumberNo. 93,272.,93,272.
PartiesALL COMP CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC, Plaintiff/Appellant, v. Roy FORD d/b/a Triple A Plumbing & Heating, Defendant/Appellee.
CourtUnited States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma

Warren Gotcher, Gotcher & Belote, McAlester, Oklahoma, for Appellant.

Stephen C. Wilkerson, Wilkerson, Wassall & Warman, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and George Zellmer, McAlester, Oklahoma, for Appellee.

Released for Publication by Order of the Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, Division No. 1.

OPINION

GARRETT, Judge:

¶ 1 All Comp Construction Company, Plaintiff/Appellant (All Comp), a limited liability company,1 was hired as general contractor to construct a building on property owned by Bettina Compton. All Comp subcontracted with Roy Ford d/b/a Triple A Plumbing and Heating, Defendant/Appellee (Ford), to install a septic system for the building. Subsequently, All Comp sued Ford for breach of the sub-contract, alleging that Ford was negligent in the installation of the septic system and that it had repaired Ford's bad job at its [All Comp] expense. All Comp also sought damages for mental stress and anguish.

¶ 2 Ford answered and filed a motion for summary judgment. Ford alleged All Comp was not the real party in interest because it did not own the premises upon which the building was being constructed. Ford also contended that since All Comp was not a "real person", it could not suffer mental stress and anguish. Ford attached evidentiary materials which showed All Comp to be the general contractor, and that the actual owner of the premises was Bettina Compton. In its response, All Comp alleged Bettina Compton was the owner of the real property, but that All Comp owned the improvements (the building) on the property because it had not yet transferred the improvements to Bettina Compton by bill of sale.

¶ 3 The court sustained Ford's motion for summary judgment. All Comp appeals and contends it is the real party in interest. The "real party in interest," is one in whose name the cause of action must be prosecuted, and is the party legally entitled to the proceeds of a claim in litigation. See, 12 O.S.1991 § 2017(A); Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association v. Remington Park, Inc., 1999 OK CIV APP 75, 987 P.2d 1216. The purpose of the "real party in interest" rule, so far as the defendant is concerned, is assurance that the defendant will not be subjected later to a second suit for same cause. Meadors v. Majors, 1994 OK CIV APP 53, 875 P.2d 1166. Here, All Comp is an interested party because it subcontracted with Ford to install the septic system, and it is responsible to the owner to properly construct the building. We do not hold that the owner is not a proper and necessary party. While it is not before us to decide, it is possible for the owner to have a cause of action against All Comp and/or Ford. It may become necessary, on remand, for the trial court to determine this question.

¶ 4 In this...

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2 cases
  • Kirby v. Richard D. White, Jr., Kara Pratt, Barber & Bartz, PC
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Oklahoma
    • December 30, 2016
    ...party in interest is the party who is legally entitled to the proceeds of the claim in the litigation. All Comp Constr. Co., LLC v. Ford, 999 P.2d 1122, 1123 (Okla. Civ. App. 2000). This requirement ensures the defendant will not be later subjected to a second suit based on the same cause o......
  • Seaton v. Oklahoma ex rel. Dep't of Human Servs.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Oklahoma
    • March 28, 2017
    ...time to join or substitute the real party in interest. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 2017(A); see also All Comp Const. Co., LLC v. Ford, 999 P.2d 1122, 1123 (Ok. Ct. Civ. App. 2000) (reversing trial court's dismissal of action without allowing reasonable time for real party in interest to be joine......
2 books & journal articles
  • Litigation
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books The Limited Liability Company - Volume 1-2 Volume 1
    • April 1, 2022
    ...that may qualify for relief as a debtor under the Bankruptcy Code. Creditor’s Rights All Comp Construction Company, LLC v. Roy Ford, 999 P.2d 1122 (Okla. App. 2000). An LLC, while a real party in interest, is still an artificial person, not a natural person, and, therefore, the LLC cannot s......
  • Oklahoma
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books The Limited Liability Company - Volume 1-2 Volume 2 State & territory specific chapters
    • April 1, 2022
    ...corporation than a partnership and therefore subject to the noted constitutional prohibition. All Comp Construction Company, LLC v. Ford, 999 P.2d 1122 (Okla. App. 2000). An LLC, while a real party in interest, is still an artificial person, not a natural person. Therefore, the LLC cannot s......

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