Kosten v. Fleming

136 P.2d 449, 17 Wash. 2d 500
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedApril 10, 1943
DocketNo. 28842.
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 136 P.2d 449 (Kosten v. Fleming) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kosten v. Fleming, 136 P.2d 449, 17 Wash. 2d 500 (Wash. 1943).

Opinion

Jeffers, J.

This matter is before us on a motion of respondents, Inglis Fleming and Mary Fleming, his wife, and C. Gordon Fleming, their son, to recall the remittitur issued on January 15, 1943, and to correct the judgment of the court contained therein, in so far as it directs the recovery of damages and costs against respondent C. Gordon Fleming, by striking therefrom all provisions for damages and costs against that respondent, and also to clarify the judgment by stating under what statute the trial court is to assess damages —that is, the state statute or the appropriate sections of the Federal emergency price control act—and to permit the trial court to hear such evidence as may be necessary to enable it to fix damages.

The remittitur above referred to was issued in the above entitled cause, which was instituted in the superior court for King county by Grace Kosten, as plaintiff, against Inglis Fleming and Mary Fleming, his wife, and C. Gordon Fleming, as defendants, for unlawful detainer. The complaint alleges a cause of action against all three defendants for unlawfully depriving plaintiff of possession of her property. Inglis Fleming and wife, in their answer, claimed the right to occupy the premises in question, under and by virtue of a lease. C. Gordon Fleming, by a separate answer, denied generally the allegations of the complaint, and, as an affirmative defense, alleged that he was the son of the other defendants, and that he now resides with his parents and for several years has paid for his room and board; that he disclaims any interest in the premises, or any right to the possession thereof.

On the issues raised by the pleadings, the cause came on for hearing before the court, and resulted in a judgment of dismissal in favor of defendants.

*502 The trial court made and entered findings of fact and conclusions of law. In finding No. 3, the court set out the form of the “Notice to Terminate Tenancy,” which was served on each of the defendants. This notice purported to terminate the tenancy on December 31, 1941. Finding No. 4 states the manner in which service of the notice was made on the three defendants. Then in finding No. 5 it is stated:

“That the defendants have continued in possession of the above described premises and refused to deliver possession thereof to the plaintiff.”

Grace Kosten appealed from the judgment entered, and this court reversed the judgment of the lower court, remanding the cause with directions “to enter judgment in favor of appellant for restitution of the property and damages, as provided by statute.” Kosten v. Fleming, 15 Wn. (2d) 523, 131 P. (2d) 170.

Respondents filed a petition for rehearing, which was denied on January 15, 1943, and on the same date this court entered a judgment, which, in so far as material, provides:

“Considered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the said superior court be,' and the same is hereby reversed, and the cause remanded with directions to enter judgment in favor of appellant for restitution of the property and damages, as provided by statute; and that the said Grace Kosten have and recover of and from the said Inglis Fleming and Mary Fleming, his wife, and C. Gordon Fleming the costs of this action taxed ...”

After the judgment had been transmitted to the superior court, counsel for appellant presented to that court proposed findings, conclusions, and judgment. Among the findings proposed was the following:

“The defendants above named, and each of them, have continued in possession of said premises and are *503 now in possession of the same and refuse to deliver the possession thereof to the plaintiff.”

The following conclusion of law, among others, was also proposed and presented to the trial court:

“That as a matter of law the defendants, and each of them, have been and are now guilty of the unlawful detainer of said premises; that the plaintiff ought to be put in the possession thereof, and that the plaintiff ought to have and recover of and from the defendants $780 as damages for the forcible detainer thereof for the calendar year 1942, together with damages at the rate of $65 per month for such period of time as the defendants shall continue to remain in possession thereof, together with the plaintiff’s costs and disbursements herein to be taxed.”

The judgment proposed was in conformity with the findings and conclusions, and was a judgment against all three defendants (which included C. Gordon Fleming).

Respondents state that the trial court expressed its intention of signing the proposed findings, conclusions, and judgment, unless this court corrects its judgment.

It is respondents’ contention that, C. Gordon Fleming having by his answer and testimony disclaimed any interest in the premises or right to possession thereof, and having before the entry of a decree herein vacated the premises, a judgment against him for damages and costs is erroneous, and that this court should recall its remittitur and correct the same so as to exclude C. Gordon Fleming from any liability for damages or costs.

It is also contended by respondents that the emergency price control act supplants the state statutes in conflict therewith, and that, by order issued under the Federal act, the office of price administration froze rents in the area in which this property is located, effective as of June 1,1942, and thereby established the *504 reasonable rental of such property to be fifteen dollars per month; that the maximum rent which could be charged for the premises subsequent to June 1, 1942, is fifteen dollars per month; that, under the Federal act, respondents could not be subject to any penalties for retaining possession of the premises during appellant’s appeal.

Considering first that part of respondents’ motion wherein it is claimed that C. Gordon Fleming was erroneously adjudged to be liable for damages and costs, we are of the opinion this contention cannot be sustained. The judgment of this court correctly held C. Gordon Fleming, as well as the other two respondents, to be liable for unlawful detainer of the premises, and therefore subject to a proper judgment for damages and costs, to the same extent as the other respondents.

The issues were well defined by thé pleadings, so far as this respondent is concerned, and there is no question but that he had his day in court. Upon appeal to this court from the judgment entered by the trial court, one of appellant’s assignments of error (No. 18) was that “the trial court erred in dismissing plaintiff’s complaint as to defendant, C. Gordon Fleming.” Respondents were advised that the question of the liability of C. Gordon Fleming was before this court, and this court had jurisdiction and authority to make and enter such judgment as it deemed proper as to the liability of C. Gordon Fleming. The argument of respondents that this court erred in entering the judgment it did against C. Gordon Fleming is, it seems to us, an attempt to again bring before this court a question already decided in the case.

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Bluebook (online)
136 P.2d 449, 17 Wash. 2d 500, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kosten-v-fleming-wash-1943.