Blunk v. Walker

222 N.W. 358, 206 Iowa 1389
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 14, 1928
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 222 N.W. 358 (Blunk v. Walker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blunk v. Walker, 222 N.W. 358, 206 Iowa 1389 (iowa 1928).

Opinion

De Graff, J.

This case involves original proceedings in certiorari in this court. The primary contention of the appellant (petitioner below) is that the respondent court did not have authority or jurisdiction to enter the judgment which was entered on said hearing. In brief, the appellant contends that the jurisdiction to enter said judgment must be predicated on the provisions of Chapter 535 (Section 12533 et seq.), Code of 1924, and not, as contended by the respondent, on the provisions of Chapter 536, Code of 1924. Before turning the searchlight upon these respective contentions involving the interpretation of statutory *1390 provisions, it may be well to visualize tbe factual setting.

Tbe petitioner, Donald J. Blunk, is the husband of Glendora Blunk.-- On March 17, 1928' the Wife, Glendora, filéd her petition praying a divorce from Donald J., alleging cruel and inhuman treatment. In said petition she also asked that a temporary writ issue, restraining the defendant from, in any manner, selling, incumbering, or disposing of any of the household goods, or from, in any manner, interfering' with the peaceable possession of the homestead occupied by the plaintiff, or from, in any manner,'interfering with the' plaintiff, pending the hearing of the cause. The restraining order as prayed was issued, and, on March 19, 1928, Donald J. Blunk was duly and legally served with notice.

On the 31st day of May, 1928, there was- filed in the district court of Iowa in and for Wapéllo County an information' and affidavit for contempt, in which are alleged the issuance of the restraining order of date March 19, 1928, and the servicé upon the defendant, Donald J. Blunk, of said order, a copy of which was attached to said information. It 'is further alleged therein that, on the night of May 30th, or the early morning of May 31, 1928, the defendant, Donald J. Blunk, willfully violated said injunction,- by interfering with the peaceable possession of the plaintiff of the premises in question, and that the defendant came to the said residence, broke- down the door of the room wherein plaintiff was sleeping, and took the plaintiff by the hair of the head, pulled her out of bed, and dragged her by the hair of her head into another room, and then threw her clothes in after her.

It is further alleged that said actions on the part of the defendant, Donald: J.. Blunk, constitute a violation of the resti’aining order in two respects: (1) In interfering with the peaceable possession of the premises, and (2) in interfering with the plaintiff, pending the'hearing of this cause.

The petition in-contempt prayed that a warrant issue for the arrest of the defendant for. contempt of court, and that a time be fixed within which the defendant file a showing in relation to said actions, and purge himself of such contempt, if possible, and that, upon, such hearing, the court inflict such punishment upon the defendant as is proper under the circumstances. An order of citation was ordered, and a warrant issued. *1391 The defendant was arrested, -and released under.. l?ond. He promptly-filed-his resistance to said application. The resistance was in the nature of a general denial,- and also contained the allegation “that the building referred- to was the home of plain-, tiff and defendant, bought and. paid for entirely by this defendant [petitioner] ; that, after plaintiff had abandoned the premises* the- defendant took possession thereof, for the purpose* of preserving the property; and that he selected for his own use only one bedroom, leaving all the rest of the house free to the plaintiff.”

On June 5, 1928, he appeared in response to the contempt proceeding. On that date, the court heard the evidence on both sides.- The hearing was recorded by the official' shorthand reporter in said court. Upon the conclusion of all the- evidence, the record discloses the following:

“Mr. Roberts: Defense rests.. 1:15 P.-M.
“The: Court: Both sides rest. 1:15. P.M.
“Mr. .Jaques: We waive the.opening argument.
“The Court.: I am not sure I want to hear an argument on it, gentlemen. -The only punishment I can give him is under this section of the. statute. Gentlemen, the order will be, this man will be found guilty of violating this injunction, and his punishment.will.be one day in the county jail and.$50 fine, and upon nonpayment of that fine, he will be confined in jail at the rate of. three and one-third dollars per day for every day in jail.”

Thereafter, on the same date, the court signed a judgment' and record entry in keeping with said order, and providing also: “To all of the above findings,'.order,'sentence, and-judg-' ment, the defendant at the time excepts.”

The trial court, in conformity to the statute, also made findings, as part of the' judgment and record entry, as follows,-—' after reciting the issuance of the writ and its service:

“The evidence further shows that, on the night of May 30, 1928, the defendant went to said home, and, after demanding admittance,; to the bedroom where the plaintiff was sleeping, broke down the door,. entered the bedroom, took hold of plaintiff’s hair, and dragged her out of the bed onto the floor; , then dragged her out of the room down the hall, and into another *1392 bedroom; also that he called her vile, indecent, and insulting names. The defendant denies, to some extent, the charges made-, but he admits that he pulled her hair, and admitted it in the presence of the policemen who wbnt to the house directly thereafter with plaintiff, to get her clothing, and emphasized the admission with an oath, that he had dragged her out of bed by the hair. The charges made against the defendant are very clearly established.”

It may be said at this point in the opinion that with the merits of the divorce action we are not concerned. And further, the involved statutory provisions being, for the moment, waived, the record evidence warrants the findings made by the respondent court.

We now turn to the material question in issue. Is the contempt proceeding within the purview of the provisions of Chapter 536, Code of 1924, governing “contempts,” or within the provisions of Chapter 535, Code of 1924, governing “injunctions?” Putting the contention of the appellant-petitioner in more specific form: Was the respondent court acting within its jurisdiction, upon the conclusion of all the evidence, in imposing then and there the judgment in question, or should the defendant have been held “for his appearance at the next term of court,” with opportunity to him ‘ ‘ to get bond with surety for his appearance ? ’ ’

The answer to this question is dependent on the definition of the term “order” or “process.” The term “order” means a decision made during the progress of the ease, either prior or subsequent to final judgment, settling some question collateral to the main issue presented by the pleadings, and necessary to be disposed of before such issue can be passed upon by the court, or necessary to be determined in carrying into execution the final judgment. 29 Cyc. 1514.

Lexicographers define an order as any direction of a court other than a judgment or decree made in a cause.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State Ex Rel. Hathaway v. Hart
708 P.2d 1137 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1985)
Brown v. District Court of Webster County
158 N.W.2d 744 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1968)
Yocum v. Gaffney
131 N.W.2d 826 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1964)
Whittier v. Whittier
23 N.W.2d 435 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1946)
Carey v. District Court
285 N.W. 236 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1939)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
222 N.W. 358, 206 Iowa 1389, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blunk-v-walker-iowa-1928.