W.A. Ross Const. Co. v. Chiles

• Decision Date: 07 July 1939
• Docket Number: 35602
• Citation: 130 S.W.2d 524,344 Mo. 1084
• Parties: W. A. Ross Construction Company, a Corporation, Appellant, v. Richard Chiles and F. P. Chiles, Partners, Doing Business as Chiles Material Company, Charles Abbey, Joe Ash, H. Arnholt, Cecil Bergas, J. D. Atkinson, Clifford Bonner, Wm. Belcher, R. F. Brown, F. Bonner, A. B. Berkebile, R. T. Brown, E. M. Capps, C. Christer, v. Curtis, A. E. Crouse, Chester Curtis, A. Chrestoliar, A. A. Daniels, Charles Drennon, O. Eidson, Roy Eldred, W. Enlow, E. M. Evans, T. Epperson, O. Elliott, Jos. Englen, R. Foster, P. Gerhardt, E. Garrison, T. B. Harbesson, v. Hustor, Homer Hack, E. Hack, L. C. Holliday, S. Hale, A. P. Hack, Norman Jackson, L. Kissinger, Fred Korff, O. Kelse, B. F. Keith, E. Lynch, G. H. League, L. Moulder, Ray Mayberry, H. G. Merritt, F. McAllister, R. Moulder, C. Messersmith, L. D. Mitchell, J. T. Merriott, C. McClanahan, Charles Murphy, Bill Miles, R. E. Martin, T. S. Morgan, R. I. Madal, A. W. Malcom, J. D. Mitchell, C. C. McCollock, F. Nations, A. Nations, J. Newman, John Overly, J. Powell, L. Patterson, D. D. Phillips, E. B. Phillips, R. Pruitt, W. W. Phillips, G. Ricker, Lee Rhodes, Donald Ross, Fred Rector, K. Stallion, R. H. Scott, Ernest Scott, J. E. Sidewell, Wm. Tumny, G. Turner, J. R. Taylor, O. Varner, L. Waters, B. E. Wharry, O. Weisman, E. Williams, T. R. Whitworth, J. R. Welsh, C. Wood, Victor L. Phillips, O. P. Hack, Baker & Singer Garage, W. H. Powell Lumber Company, Wheats Electric Company, W. C. Brown, Walter Varner, Camden County Lumber Company, B. F. Herbert, Varner Motor Company, Creach Motor Company, Standard Oil Company, E. F. Donner, Phillips Petroleum Company, Ozark Central Telephone Company, Camden Motor Company, Feaster Wallace, C. E. Lowell, Crossley Specialize Company, R. W. Vaught, H. M. Merriott, D. E. McClanchan, and M. M. Prussing, Arthur Cline and Fred Jacobs, Judges of the County Court of Camden County
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

130 S.W.2d 524

344 Mo. 1084

W. A. Ross Construction Company, a Corporation, Appellant, v. Richard Chiles and F. P. Chiles, Partners, Doing Business as Chiles Material Company, Charles Abbey, Joe Ash, H. Arnholt, Cecil Bergas, J. D. Atkinson, Clifford Bonner, Wm. Belcher, R. F. Brown, F. Bonner, A. B. Berkebile, R. T. Brown, E. M. Capps, C. Christer, v. Curtis, A. E. Crouse, Chester Curtis, A. Chrestoliar, A. A. Daniels, Charles Drennon, O. Eidson, Roy Eldred, W. Enlow, E. M. Evans, T. Epperson, O. Elliott, Jos. Englen, R. Foster, P. Gerhardt, E. Garrison, T. B. Harbesson, v. Hustor, Homer Hack, E. Hack, L. C. Holliday, S. Hale, A. P. Hack, Norman Jackson, L. Kissinger, Fred Korff, O. Kelse, B. F. Keith, E. Lynch, G. H. League, L. Moulder, Ray Mayberry, H. G. Merritt, F. McAllister, R. Moulder, C. Messersmith, L. D. Mitchell, J. T. Merriott, C. McClanahan, Charles Murphy, Bill Miles, R. E. Martin, T. S. Morgan, R. I. Madal, A. W. Malcom, J. D. Mitchell, C. C. McCollock, F. Nations, A. Nations, J. Newman, John Overly, J. Powell, L. Patterson, D. D. Phillips, E. B. Phillips, R. Pruitt, W. W. Phillips, G. Ricker, Lee Rhodes, Donald Ross, Fred Rector, K. Stallion, R. H. Scott, Ernest Scott, J. E. Sidewell, Wm. Tumny, G. Turner, J. R. Taylor, O. Varner, L. Waters, B. E. Wharry, O. Weisman, E. Williams, T. R. Whitworth, J. R. Welsh, C. Wood, Victor L. Phillips, O. P. Hack, Baker & Singer Garage, W. H. Powell Lumber Company, Wheats Electric Company, W. C. Brown, Walter Varner, Camden County Lumber Company, B. F. Herbert, Varner Motor Company, Creach Motor Company, Standard Oil Company, E. F. Donner, Phillips Petroleum Company, Ozark Central Telephone Company, Camden Motor Company, Feaster Wallace, C. E. Lowell, Crossley Specialize Company, R. W. Vaught, H. M. Merriott, D. E. McClanchan, and M. M. Prussing, Arthur Cline and Fred Jacobs, Judges of the County Court of Camden County

No. 35602

Supreme Court of Missouri

July 7, 1939

Appeal from Camden Circuit Court; Hon. Cornelius H Skinker, Judge.

Appeal dismissed.

Julius C. Shapiro for appellant; L. Cunningham, Jr. of counsel.

(1) Plaintiff, by its contract, intended to become, and was only a purchaser of materials, and having paid into court the amount determined due and owing as fixed therein, for quantities delivered, it was absolved from any further liability, both in respect to the material company and their employees, to whom said material company might be indebted. Accordingly, it was error to refuse to render judgment for the interpleader under the pleadings, undisputed facts evidence, and record of the cause. Berger Mfg. Co. v. Lloyd, 209 Mo. 681, 108 S.W. 52; State ex rel. Kingley v. Carterville Const. Co., 220 Mo.App. 244, 284 S.W. 150; Neary v. Puget Sound Engineering Co., 114 Wash. 1, 194 P. 830; Baker v. Yakima Valley Canal Co., 77 Wash. 70, 137 P. 342; Huddleston v. Nislar, 72 S.W.2d 959; Foster Lumber Co. v. Sigma Chi Chapter House, 49 Ind.App. 528, 97 N.E. 801; Buhler Co. v. New York Dock Co., 170 A.D. 486, 156 N.Y.S. 459; 9 C. J. 694; 40 C. J. 130, sec. 142. (2) The action herein, being one in interpleader, it was error, absent waiver, or voluntary joinder, for the court to assume jurisdiction, further than to discharge the plaintiff, and require the defendants to interplead as to the fund deposited, or, in the alternative, as requested, to dismiss plaintiff's bill and the cross petitions of answering defendants, requesting affirmative relief; jurisdiction not being vested to entertain, or adjudicate, the matters set forth in the alleged individual causes of action for affirmative relief against plaintiff interpleader. State ex rel. Ross Const. Co. v. Skinker, 106 S.W.2d 409; Brown v. Curtain, 330 Mo. 1156, 52 S.W.2d 387; State ex rel. City of St. Charles v. Becker, 336 Mo. 1187, 83 S.W.2d 583; Matlack v. Kline, 280 Mo. 139, 216 S.W. 323; Roselle v. Farmers' Bank of Norborne, 119 Mo. 84, 24 S.W. 744; State ex rel. Mulvihill v. Kumpff, 62 Mo.App. 332; Glasner v. Weisberg, 43 Mo.App. 214; City of Los Angeles v. Amador, 140 Cal. 400, 73 P. 1049; Conner v. Bank of Bakersfield, 183 Cal. 199, 190 P. 801; Wakeman v. Kingsland, 46 N.J.Eq. 113, 18 A. 680; Wainright v. Conn. Fire Ins. Co., 73 Fla. 130, 74 So. 8; 33 C. J. 461, 464, sec. 52. (a) In denying to plaintiff a judgment, and an order of interpleader, the court lost all equitable jurisdiction, and accordingly erred in refusing to dismiss said proceedings, and in further entertaining said cause and defendants' cross-bills. Brown v. Curtain, 330 Mo. 1156, 52 S.W.2d 387; State ex rel. Reid v. Barrett, 118 S.W.2d 33; Miller v. St. Louis & K. C. Rys. Co., 162 Mo. 424, 63 S.W. 85; Ebel v. Roller, 21 S.W.2d 214; Winer v. Wagner, 323 Mo. 1156, 20 S.W.2d 650; Granite Paving Co. v. Stange, 37 S.W.2d 460; Van Winkle v. Owen, 54 N.J.Eq. 253, 34 A. 400; Michigan Trust Co. v. McNamara, 165 Mich. 200, 130 N.W. 653, 37 L. R. A. (N. S.) 986; 33 C. J. 421, sec. 2. (b) The court erred in refusing to strike the portions of said answers and cross-bills, and in failing to sustain the demurrers filed to the separate and independent causes of action, requesting affirmative relief, for the reason there was a misjoinder of party defendants, and causes of action, and that the same were not cognizable in these proceedings. Ballew Lbr. & Hardware Co. v. Mo. Pac. Ry. Co., 288 Mo. 478, 232 S.W. 1015; Mo. District Telegraph Co. v. S.W. Bell Tel. Co., 338 Mo. 692, 93 S.W.2d 19; Wakeman v. Kingsland, 46 N.J.Eq. 113, 18 A. 680.

Warren M. Turner, Louren G. Davidson, Jack Curtis, Neale & Newman and Farrington & Curtis for respondents; Leo J. Harned of counsel.

(1) The appellant and its surety company are directly responsible to the respondents, because Chiles Material Company was a subcontractor under appellant and not a materialman. Sec. 2890, R. S. 1929, Amend. Laws 1933, p. 179; City ex rel. Horton v. Koch, 228 Mo.App. 511, 72 S.W.2d 191; St. Louis v. Hill O'Meara Const. Co., 175 Mo.App. 555, 158 S.W. 98; City ex rel. Sears v. So. Surety Co., 333 Mo. 180, 62 S.W.2d 432; Berger Mfg. Co. v. Lloyd, 209 Mo. 681, 108 S.W. 52; Jackson County v. Freeborn Co., 174 Mo.App. 28, 160 S.W. 271; State ex rel. Kingsley v. Carterville Const. Co., 220 Mo.App. 244, 284 S.W. 150; St. Louis v. Kaplan-McGowan Co., 108 S.W.2d 987; 9 C. J. 664; Ryndak v. Seawell, 76 P. 170; Combs v. Jackson, 72 N.W. 656; Miller v. Cornell-Young Co., 171 S.E. 791; Western Sash & Door Co. v. Buckner, 80 Mo.App. 100. (2) The circuit court has jurisdiction to hear and determine respondents' claims for affirmative relief since the appellant's petition did not state a cause of action in strict interpleader. 33 C. J. 421; Centralia v. Norton, 140 Ill.App. 54; Mycock v. Continental Life Ins. Co., 9 P.2d 179. (3) The circuit court has jurisdiction to pass on the whole petition because the suit being brought in equity, jurisdiction will be retained until complete justice between the parties has been done. 21 C. J. 134, 198; Rains v. Moulder, 338 Mo. 275, 90 S.W.2d 81; Real Estate Savs. Institute v. Collonius, 63 Mo. 297; Munford v. Sheldon, 320 Mo. 1077, 9 S.W.2d 907; Gloyd v. Gloyd, 293 Mo. 163, 239 S.W. 73. (4) The circuit court has jurisdiction to hear the counterclaim in this proceeding because the appellant waived its objection in the court below. State ex rel. St. Charles v. Becker, 336 Mo. 1187, 83 S.W.2d 583; 1 Houts on Mo. Pleading & Practice 158, 264, 265, 339; Titus v. North K. C. Dev. Co., 264 Mo. 229, 174 S.W. 432; Dorrance v. Dorrance, 257 Mo. 317, 165 S.W. 783; Peniston v. Hydraulic Press Brick Co., 234 Mo. 698, 138 S.W. 532; Secs. 774, 967, R. S. 1929; Grindstaff v. Goldberg & Sons Structural Steel Co., 328 Mo. 72, 40 S.W.2d 702; Toler v. Coover, 335 Mo. 113, 71 S.W.2d 1067; Conrad v. Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., 228 Mo.App. 817, 73 S.W.2d 438; Duskey v. Kansas City, 227 Mo.App. 849, 58 S.W.2d 768; Sutton v. Kansas City Star Co., 54 S.W.2d 454. (5) The circuit court has jurisdiction to hear and adjudicate the counterclaims and cross-bills set forth in the answers of the various claimants. St. Charles v. Wabash Ry., 65 S.W.2d 655; Secs. 776, 777, 849, R. S. 1929; Dezino v. Drozda Realty Co., 13 S.W.2d 659; Jones v. Jones, 325 Mo. 1037, 30 S.W.2d 49; 33 C. J. 458; Matlack v. Kline, 280 Mo. 139, 216 S.W. 323; Matlack v. Kline, 190 S.W. 411; Wakeman v. Kingsland, 18 A. 681; Cornell v. King, 118 Mo.App. 191, 94 S.W. 822; Owen v. Apel, 68 Ill. 391. (6) The circuit court has jurisdiction for the reason that appellant's action is an attempt to avoid the action provided under Section 2890 (as amended, Laws 1933, p. 179) and Section 2891, Revised Statutes 1929. Sec. 2890, R. S. 1929; Laws 1933, p. 179.

Bradley, C. Hyde and Talton, CC., concur.

OPINION

BRADLEY

This cause was commenced July 12, 1935. Plaintiff designated the action as a "suit in the nature of an equitable interpleader." There are 116 defendants, and all except defendant, Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance Company were named as defendants in the petition when filed. The bonding company, which was plaintiff's surety in a bridge construction contract (October 16, 1934) with Camden County, was made a party on motion of defendants. After plaintiff secured the bridge contract, it entered into a contract (December 22, 1934) with Richard and F. P. Chiles partners under the name of Chiles Material Company, to furnish, at $ 1.60 per ton, the sand and gravel, estimated at 7000 tons, to be used in the bridge construction. The Chiles company was, or became, insolvent, and the laborers, truck drivers, etc., who did work in the production and delivery of sand and gravel used in the bridge construction work by plaintiff, while the Chiles company operated, were not paid, and they contended that plaintiff and its surety were liable to them and should pay them. Plaintiff...