Abel v. Robert Noble Estate

252 P. 493, 43 Idaho 391, 1927 Ida. LEXIS 179

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: January 4, 1927
• Status: Published

Opinion

BUDGE, J.

In its inception this was a case brought by James Abel against the Robert Noble Estate to quiet title to certain lots in Boise City. In its answer Robert Noble Estate prayed that the Folsoms, Perkinses and Peters be brought in as cross-defendants, alleging that Abel’s title was wrongfully deraigned through them and in fraud of defendant’s rights. They were accordingly brought in as parties.

The facts, as they appear from the record and the briefs of counsel, are hardly in dispute, so far as material to the consideration of this motion. The Folsoms and Perkinses, as owners of the property in question, in 1909 entered into a contract of sale with Robert Noble. Upon his death several years later his interest in this contract was taken over by the defendant corporation. The lower court found that defendant corporation defaulted on the contract. In 1922 the Folsoms and Perkins by warranty deed conveyed the property to Peters, who conveyed it to Abel, also by warranty deed. Perkins and Peters did not appear at the trial and their default was entered.

The lower court found in favor of plaintiff and cross-defendants. Defendant appealed both from the judgment and order overruling motion for new trial.

The ground of respondents’ motion to dismiss the appeals is that notice of appeal was not served on respondents Dean Perkins and E. B. Peters, alleged to be adverse parties. It has often been held by this court that all are adverse parties who might be prejudicially affected by a reversal of the judgment, irrespective of whether one or more of such parties may have permitted default to be-entered, and that in the absence of notice of appeal served upon such parties this court is without jurisdiction. Applying that test to the facts of this case, it is quite obvious that if the judgment of the lower court were reversed and the title of Abel thereby impaired, the respondents Dean Perkins and E. B. Peters would be severally liable to Abel upon their covenants of warranty, and prejudicially affected by such reversal to that extent.

Appellant in its brief quotes at length from Abel’s answer to defendant’s cross-complaint in support of its contention that “respondent Abel assumed the burden of clearing his title and relieved Perkins and Peters of any connection therewith,” and also cites certain testimony found in the record, none of which supports appellant’s contention. It does not appear that Abel ever released Perkins and Peters from liability on their unqualified warranty deeds.

Appellant contends that a certain stipulation of counsel, which is set forth in full, estops respondents from raising any question as to the sufficiency of the notice of appeal. The effect of this stipulation was simply to provide for the consolidation of both appeals, in case the motion for a new trial then pending should be overruled; that the lodgment of the transcript in the supreme court might await the determination of such motion, and that both appeals “shall be considered as one case in the supreme court.” It does not appear that the purpose of this stipulation was to waive notice of appeal to any of the respondents, even if it were possible thereby to waive jurisdiction.

From what has been said it follows that the appeals must be dismissed, and it is so ordered.

Givens, Taylor and T. Bailey Lee, JJ., concur.