Knapp v. Fleming, 16861

Decision Date27 April 1953
Docket NumberNo. 16861,16861
Citation258 P.2d 489,127 Colo. 414
PartiesKNAPP v. FLEMING et al.
CourtColorado Supreme Court

G. J. Knapp, pro se.

William H. Bowman, Pueblo, for defendants in error.

ALTER, Justice.

G. J. Knapp, plaintiff in error, who was plaintiff in the trial court, brought an action against Herman L. Fleming and Frank Kirtley to recover judgment against defendants in the sum of $250, with interest thereon. Upon trial to the court, and at the conclusion of the plaintiff's evidence, on motion of defendants, judgment of dismissal was entered, to reverse which plaintiff brings the case here by writ of error.

It appears from the record that plaintiff is acting here, and acted in the court below, as his own attorney. The trial court repeatedly took this fact into consideration and permitted him to proceed with the presentation of his case in an unorthodox manner. A litigant is permitted to present his own case, but, in so doing, should be restricted to the same rules of evidence and procedure as is required of those qualified to practice law before our courts; otherwise, ignorance is unjustly rewarded.

Plaintiff's brief is scurrilous, containing frequent invectives and vituperations, together with derogatory remarks concerning the trial judge and questioning the latter's ability and integrity. It should be stricken. However, from the record and brief we observe that plaintiff has failed to comply with rule 27, R.C.P. Colo., concerning depositions; rule 59(f), R.C.P. Colo., respecting the necessity for motions for new trials; and rule 115(c)(3), R.C.P. Colo., providing for a concise statement of the case.

Plaintiff having failed to comply with our rules as above stated, the writ of error is dismissed.

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14 cases
  • GP, Matter of
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • March 22, 1984
    ...as is required of those qualified to practice law before our courts; otherwise, ignorance is unjustly rewarded.' Knapp v. Fleming, 127 Colo. 414, 258 P.2d 489; Monastero v. Los Angeles Transit Co., 131 Cal.App.2d 156, 160-161, 280 P.2d 187." 289 P.2d at We reiterated these various concepts ......
  • Martin v. Essrig
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • August 4, 2011
    ...brief that the appellee's counsel had “flagrantly violated all of the ethics of an honorable profession”); Knapp v. Fleming, 127 Colo. 414, 415, 258 P.2d 489, 490 (1953) (striking brief containing “scurrilous” statements, “frequent invectives and vituperations,” and “derogatory remarks conc......
  • Suchta v. O. K. Rubber Welders, Inc.
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • November 18, 1963
    ...hold that a litigant has such a right, see State ex rel. Frohmiller v. Hendrix, 59 Ariz, 184, 124 P.2d 768, 772; Knapp v. Fleming, 127 Colo. 414, 258 P.2d 489; Jefferson v. British American Oil Producing Co., 193 Okl. 599, 145 P.2d 387, 388; Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Jones, 344 Mo. 932, 130 ......
  • Adams v. Sagee
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • October 19, 2017
    ...of those qualified to practice law before our courts; otherwise, ignorance is unjustly rewarded." (quoting Knapp v. Fleming , 127 Colo. 414, 415, 258 P.2d 489, 489-90 (1953) )).¶ 11 No Colorado appellate decision has addressed the precise issue before us—whether a generally applicable, juri......
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1 books & journal articles
  • Pro Se Civil Appeals: the Problem and Special Standards and Rules
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Lawyer No. 45-3, March 2016
    • Invalid date
    ...v. Fox Rent a Car, 395 F. App'x 514, 516 (10th Cir. 2010) (unpublished). [25] Id. [26] Manka, 614 P.2d at 880 (quoting Knapp v. Fleming, 258 P.2d 489 (Colo. 1953)). [27] Id. (quoting Viles v. Scofield, 261 P.2d 148 (Colo. 1953)). [28] Rosenberg v. Grady, 843 P.2d 25, 26 (Colo.App. 1992). [2......

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