Edinger v. Miller
| Decision Date | 28 September 1943 |
| Citation | 295 Ky. 287 |
| Parties | Edinger v. Miller. |
| Court | Supreme Court of Kentucky |
1. Dismissal and Nonsuit. — Dismissal of an action without prejudice leaves the parties as if no action had been instituted.
2. Judgment. — Where defendant's demurrer was sustained, but on plaintiff's motion the action was dismissed without prejudice, judgment was not "res judicata" of a new action against the same defendant based on the same facts.
Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court.
L. Edmund Huber for appellant.
Niles & Will for appellee.
Before Eugene Hubbard, Judge.
Reversing.
In October, 1941, the appellant, Edward C. Edinger, filed an action against the appellee, Lincoln Miller. In the first paragraph of his petition he asked compensation for certain services rendered by him at the request of Miller. In the second paragraph he sought compensation for services in connection with an alleged partnership agreement between him and Miller. A demurrer was sustained to each paragraph of the petition. Some four months thereafter the petition was dismissed without prejudice on Edinger's motion. Subsequently he filed the action now before us.
The three paragraphs of the second petition dealt with the same subject matter contained in the first petition, but relief was sought upon the theory of a contractual relationship between the parties. Miller filed a motion asking that the petition be dismissed on the ground that the two actions were identical. The motion to dismiss was treated as a plea of res judicata. The order dismissing the second petition relates that such action was taken because the facts and allegations set forth therein were identical with those in the first petition.
We believe the trial court erred in dismissing the second petition, since a dismissal without prejudice leaves the parties as if no action had been instituted. When the first petition was dismissed without prejudice on Edinger's motion, the parties were left where they stood originally, and there was never a determination on the merits of the controversy. There are numerous decisions of this Court to that effect. Magill v. Mercantile Trust Co., 81 Ky. 129, 4 Ky. Law Rep. 927; Harris v. Tiffany, 47 Ky. 225; Hibler v. Shipp, 78 Ky. 64. See, also, Cravens v. Hardesty, 16 Ky. Law Rep. 271; Sevier v. Bowling, 97 S.W. 806, 30 Ky. Law Rep. 217; Southern National Life Realty Corporation v. People's Bank of Bardstown, 178 Ky. 80, 198 S.W. 543; Hysteam Coal Corporation v. Ingram, 283 Ky. 411, 141 S.W. (2d) 570; and...
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