Cory v. Smith

186 N.E.2d 14, 134 Ind. App. 404, 1962 Ind. App. LEXIS 239
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 13, 1962
DocketNo. 19,284
StatusPublished

This text of 186 N.E.2d 14 (Cory v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cory v. Smith, 186 N.E.2d 14, 134 Ind. App. 404, 1962 Ind. App. LEXIS 239 (Ind. Ct. App. 1962).

Opinion

Gonas, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment in favor of the appellee (plaintiff) upon trial by the court, on a verified complaint for a new trial which judgment set aside a jury verdict and judgment rendered in said court.

After appellant’s motion for a new trial was overruled, he duly perfected this appeal to this court.

[406]*406The summons in the action below was returnable on September 3,1957, during the September, 1957,-term of the Marion Superior Court. Appellant filed his answer in abatement on the return day of the summons. On September 26, 1957, before any action had been taken with reference to the answer in abatement appellant filed his demurrer to the complaint for new trial. The last day of the September, 1957, term of the Marion Superior Court was October 5, 1957. On October 28, 1957, appellant filed his motion to dismiss and the demurrer was overruled, and appellant filed his answer to appellee’s complaint for a new trial, which motion was overruled.

Plaintiff's verified complaint on which the cause was tried is in one paragraph and, omitting formal parts, reads;

“The Plaintiff, Charles P. Smith, complains of the defendant, Joseph M. Cory, Administrator of the estate of John F. Cory, deceased, and alleges:
1. That the defendant, Joseph M. Cory, is now and was during all the time herein mentioned the duly appointed qualified and acting administrator of the estate of Joseph F. Cory, deceased.
2. On the 26th day of August, 1955, Joseph M. Cory, as administrator of the Estate of John F. Cory, deceased, filed his complaint for damages for wrongful death against the plaintiff herein in the Superior Court of Marion County. That said cause of action thus filed by said defendant was entitled Joseph M. Cory, Administrator of the estate of John F. Cory, Deceased, vs. Charles P. Smith, in the Superior Court of Marion County, Cause No. C-14257.
3. That thereafter the defendant herein, the plaintiff in said above mentioned cause filed an amended complaint in said action therein the plaintiff, the defendant in this cause alleged that John F. Cory was struck by an automobile owned and operated by Charles P. Smith, the plaintiff herein, the defendant in said above mentioned [407]*407cause on the 24th day of November, 1954. That said accident occurred on Indiana State Road 37, at its intersection with E. 45th Street, in Marion County, Indiana.
4. That beginning on the 15th day of April, 1957, said cause of action which was filed by the defendant herein, Joseph M. Cory, against Charles P. Smith, was tried by a jury which resulted in a verdict in favor of the defendant herein, Joseph M. Cory, administrator of the estate of John F. Cory, deceased.
5. That within the time prescribed by law, this plaintiff filed a motion for new trial in said cause. That said motion for new trial is pending in this court at this time.
6. That one of the jurors selected to try said cause was Lynn B. Cray, 3921 E. 11th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. That immediately prior to April 15, 1957, said Lynn B. Cray was an officer and manager of the Jesse C. Pritchett Recreation Company, Incorporated, which action resulted in a Receiver being appointed for said corporation of which the said Lynn B. Cray was an officer and manager as above stated. That John Z. Kepler, an attorney and associate of said law firm of Steers, Klee, Jay & Sullivan was named by the Court as Receiver of said Jesse C. Pritchett Recreation Company, Incorporated.
7. That the said law firm of Steers, Klee, Jay & Sullivan, the attorneys for a then creditor of the Jesse C. Pritchett Recreation Company, Incorporated, above named are also the attorneys for the plaintiff in this cause, the defendant in the case of Joseph M. Cory, Administrator of the Estate of John F. Cory, deceased v. Charles P. Smith, above referred to.
8. That the trial of said above described cause was the responsibility of James C. Jay, assisted by said John Z. Kepler, the Receiver of the said Jesse C. Pritchett Recreation Company, Incorporated, as above stated.
9. That at the time said juror, Lynn B. Cray was questioned concerning the qualifications and competency to serve as a juror in said cause neither said defendant or counsel representing [408]*408him at said time, James C. Jay, was aware of the fact that the said Lynn B. Cray was an officer and manager of the said Jesse C. Pritchett Recreation Company, Incorporated. That said Lynn B. Cray was asked whether or not he was acquainted with any of the parties or counsel of said cause, which questions the said Lynn B. Cray answered in the negative.
10. That the time allowed by law in which plaintiff herein, the defendant in said above mentioned cause may file a motion for new trial has expired.
11. That the said Lynn B. Cray, by reason of the facts hereinabove stated, was not competent to serve as a juror in said cause and by reason of the business relationship existing between him and the attorney for the said Charles P. Smith.
12. That such cause for a new trial as above alleged was unknown to the plaintiff herein during the term of which the verdict was rendered and the time allowed by law in which to file motion for new trial. That such incompetency and disqualification of said juror was not discovered until after the time allowed by the law to file a motion for new trial as hereinabove mentioned. That this complaint is filed not later than the second term of such discovery as above alleged. That the incompetency and disqualification of said juror by the exercise of reasonable diligence would not have been and was not discovered before the expiration of the term in which said above named cause was tried and within the time allowed by law to file a motion for new trial, be granted in said cause.”

Upon this appeal, appellant challenges the action of the trial court in overruling his motion to dismiss and in overruling his motion for a new trial. Burns’ Statutes §2-2405 provides:

“Where causes for a new trial are discovered after the term at which the verdict or decision was rendered, the application may be made by a complaint filed with the Clerk, not later than the second term after the discovery, on which a [409]*409summons shall issue, as on other complaints, requiring the adverse party to appear and answer. The application shall stand for hearing at the term to which the summons is returned executed, and shall be summarily decided by the court upon the evidence produced by the parties. ...” (Our emphasis.)

The basis of appellant’s motion to dismiss is that the action did not “stand for hearing” at the term to which the summons was returned, that is, since it was not tried at that term the court could not thereafter try it. The meaning of this statute was misconstrued.

Under the earlier law in Indiana, an action started during term time could not be tried until a following term. Gavit, Indiana Pleading and Practice §330, p. 2061. Thus the Acts of 1861, p. 49; Gavin and Hords Revised Statutes of the State of Indiana, 1862, Ed. Vol. II, Sec. CCXV, p. 194, provided:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
186 N.E.2d 14, 134 Ind. App. 404, 1962 Ind. App. LEXIS 239, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cory-v-smith-indctapp-1962.