Wheeler v. Bennett

• Decision Date: 28 May 1906
• Parties: WHEELER v. BENNETT
• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court

95 S.W. 142

79 Ark. 210

WHEELER v. BENNETT

Supreme Court of Arkansas

May 28, 1906

Appeal from Mississippi Chancery Court; Edward D. Robertson Chancellor; affirmed.

Affirmed.

Driver & Harrison, for appellant.

1. A judgment rendered in an adversary suit without notice is void. 49 Ark. 397; Freeman on Judgments, 4 Ed. § 117; 58 Ark. 181; 71 Ark. 565.

2. Appellant is not estopped by the decree rendered at the October term, 1902. The burden is upon the appellees to show to the satisfaction of the court an estoppel by virtue of this decree. 55 Ark. 286. The complaint in that suit was an effort to remove a cloud from title. It discloses that petitioner was out of possession, that it was an effort to attack collaterally the former decree under which appellees claimed title, and the decree dismissing this complaint was in effect an involuntary nonsuit. 47 Ark. 120, and cases cited.

3. It is patent upon the face of the complaint upon which the decree of dismissal was based that no cause of action was urged, and it could not support a decree that affected the rights of defendants. 62 Ark. 439; 57 Ark. 97. The merits were never presented in the petition to remove cloud from the title, and no binding decree could have been rendered thereon. 62 Ark. 78; 94 U.S. 608.

D. F Taylor and J. T. Coston, for appellees.

1. It is conceded that a judgment without notice is void, but the question of service upon appellant has been litigated, and decided adversely to his contention by the decree rendered in October, 1902. His complaint stated a good cause of action. Bennett and Lollar were nonresidents. The court heard plaintiff's evidence, and dismissed the complaint for want of equity. It is res judicata. Black, Judgments, § 609, subsec. 2; Ib. § 614; 89 F. 652; 88 S.W. 980. In an action against non-residents plaintiff must substantiate his complaint by proof. Kirby's Digest, § 653. A dismissal or a default may be the basis for a judgment on the merits. 85 Feb. 636; 7 Wall. 109; 157 U.S. 691; 166 U.S. 518; 152 U.S. 257.

2. As to the partition suit, the record shows that Wheeler was served, as appears by the sheriff's return, that all parties appeared by solicitors at the submission of the cause, and that all parties consented to the approval and confirmation of the report. These recitals are not contradicted. 61 Ark. 474. The presumption in favor of jurisdiction is conclusive. 87 S.W. 436; 80 S.W. 884.

3. Appellant is not entitled to relief because of his own laches. 50 Ark. 462; 28 Minn. 132; 6 Wis. 164; 98 Ind. 165; 190 Pa. 345; 62 Minn. 18; 71 Hun. 519.

OPINION

MCCULLOCH, J.

This is a suit in the chancery court of Mississippi County Chickasawba District, brought by appellant, Cicero Wheeler, against appellees, B. F. Bennett, Dora Lollar, and certain other parties to annul and vacate a decree of that court rendered at a former term in a suit instituted by appellees against appellant, and others, for partition of certain lands aggregating several thousand acres, the particular tract claimed by appellant having been allotted to appellees Bennett and Lollar in the division. He alleged, for grounds of complaint, that he was not served with summons, did not appear in the suit, and had no information of the pendency thereof until after the rendition of the decree.

The decree for partition sought to be annulled was rendered at the October term, 1900, and the final order of the court confirming the report of commissioners dividing the lands was rendered at the October term, 1901. The present suit was commenced March 11, 1903.

Appellees alleged, among other defenses, that appellant had on September 2, 1902, instituted suit against them in the same court, setting forth the same cause of action and seeking the same relief as in this suit, and that said court at the October term, 1902, rendered a final decree, upon the pleadings and proof, dismissing the complaint for want of equity. Said decree is pleaded as a bar to appellant's right to maintain this suit.

The complaint in the former suit is set forth in the record, and discloses substantially the same allegations as contained in the complaint in the present suit.

The decree is as follows:

"Chancery Court, Chickasawba District, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

"Cicero Wheeler, Plaintiff,

v.

B. F. Bennett and Dora Lollar, Defendants.

"Comes the plaintiff by his attorneys, Little & Buck, and the defendant, though duly served with process by warning order published as the law directs, came not, but made default. This cause is heard upon the pleadings,...