Renner v. Chilton, 18825

Decision Date18 April 1960
Docket NumberNo. 18825,18825
Citation351 P.2d 277,142 Colo. 454
PartiesJames E. RENNER, Plaintiff in Error, v. J. Emery CHILTON, Defendant in Error.
CourtColorado Supreme Court

James E. Renner, pro se, William J. Chisholm, Denver, for plaintiff in error.

J. Nelson Truitt, J. Emery Chilton, pro se, Denver, for defendant in error.

SUTTON, Chief Justice.

The parties are here in the same order as they appeared in the trial court. Both litigants are attorneys at law.

The grievances, which form the basis of the action, have arisen as a direct result of personal conflicts between the parties which occurred while they were representing the interests of their respective clients.

Renner filed his complaint in May of 1958, alleging seven 'causes of action'. Chilton then filed a motion to dismiss, stating as grounds therefor that none of the allegations stated a claim upon which relief could be granted. This motion was granted by the trial court, whereupon Renner made an oral motion to amend his complaint, which motion was denied.

We do not deem it either desirable or propitious to set forth, in detail or substance, the charges contained in the seven 'causes of action.' All allegations in the complaint are based upon the alleged falsity of various statements made orally or in writing by Chilton concerning Renner. The trial court, in dismissing the complaint, stated:

'To comment on the ruling, the Court at this time makes the observation that the entire complaint seems to be based upon judicial acts or semijudicial proceedings which have taken place. * * *.'

An analysis of the pleadings indicates that this is a correct statement. Such being the case, all matters complained of were within the protection of an absolute privilege. See Glasson v. Bowen, 1928, 84 Colo. 57, 267 P. 1066. As such they could provide no basis upon which relief could be granted and the trial court properly sustained defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint.

One other question remains. Renner urges that the court erred in overruling his motion to amend his complaint following the order sustaining the motion to dismiss, asserting that he was entitled to one such amendment as a matter of right under the provisions of Rule 15(a), R.C.P.Colo. This rule provides in pertinent part:

'A party may amend his pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is filed or, if the pleading is one to which no responsive pleading is permitted and the action...

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14 cases
  • People v. Stanley
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • April 5, 2007
    ...for true threats. See McDonald v. Lakewood Country Club, 170 Colo. 355, 364, 461 P.2d 437, 442 (1969); Renner v. Chilton, 142 Colo. 454, 455-56, 351 P.2d 277, 277 (1960); Club Valencia Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. v. Valencia Assocs., 712 P.2d 1024, 1027 (Colo.App.1985). Defendant cites no case, ......
  • DIA Brewing Co. v. MCE-DIA, LLC
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • February 6, 2020
    ...prejudiced Leach's right to have his claim adjudicated does violence to [ Rule 15(a) ] and the court's order."); Renner v. Chilton , 142 Colo. 454, 456, 351 P.2d 277, 278 (1960) ("The language of [ Rule 15(a) ] is, however, clear and unequivocal. It expressly allows one amendment as a matte......
  • Currier v. Sutherland
    • United States
    • Colorado Supreme Court
    • October 19, 2009
    ...once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is filed...." C.R.C.P. 15(a); see also Renner v. Chilton, 142 Colo. 454, 456, 351 P.2d 277, 278 (1960) ("The language of the rule ... expressly allows one amendment as a matter of right before the answer or reply is filed........
  • Harris v. Regional Transp. Dist., No. 05CA0852.
    • United States
    • Colorado Court of Appeals
    • December 28, 2006
    ...first blush that the rule entitled Harris to amend his petition (putting aside the relation back question). See Renner v. Chilton, 142 Colo. 454, 456, 351 P.2d 277, 277-78 (1960); Davis, supra, 21 P.3d at 873. That result, however, is not mandated by the particular procedural circumstances ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
2 books & journal articles
  • Rule 15 AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS.
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure (CBA)
    • Invalid date
    ...construing those sections have been included in the annotations to this rule. This rule is clear and unequivocal. Renner v. Chilton, 142 Colo. 454, 351 P.2d 277 (1960). An amendment is a defensive weapon offered one whose defective pleading is assailed. Lamar Bldg. & Loan Ass'n v. Truax, 95......
  • Defamation and Privacy Violations Online: Colorado and Beyond
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Lawyer No. 27-5, May 1998
    • Invalid date
    ...f at 237; Pittman, supra, note 19; Lindemuth v. Jefferson County School D., 765 P.2d 1057, 1058 (Colo.App. 1988). 26. Renner v. Chilton, 351 P.2d 277 (Colo. 1960); McDonald Lakewood Country Club, 461 P.2d 437, 442 (Colo. 1969); Club Valencia Homeowner's Assn. v. Valencia Associates, 7712 P.......

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