Lykins v. Pieratt

225 S.W.2d 309, 311 Ky. 739, 1949 Ky. LEXIS 1235

• Court: Court of Appeals of Kentucky
• Decided: December 16, 1949
• Status: Published

Opinion

Clay, Commissioner

Affirming.

This suit was brought in the Menifee Circuit Court by appellees to recover damages for appellant’s alleged breach of á timber contract. The latter filed a special demurrer alleging that a prior action was pending in the Wolfe Circuit Court “between the same parties over the same subject matter.” This demurrer was overruled and the parties went to trial, resulting in a verdict for appellees.

The only question raised on this appeal is whether or not the Menifee Circuit Court properly overruled the special demurrer which constituted a plea in abatement.

Appellant and appellees each had independent causes of action on the contract involved. Neither was a defense to the other. Though the subject matter was the same, the distinct claims did not constitute the “same cause,” the ground upon which the special demurrer is invoked. Civil Code of Practice,. section 92, subsection 3.

While appellees could have set up their action for damages in the Wolfe Circuit Court by way of set-off or counterclaim, they were not required to do so. They were at liberty to assert such right in the proper court of their choosing. This question was settled in the recent tort case of Conley v. Marshall et al., 304 Ky. 745, 202 S. W. 2d 382, and the same principle applies in a suit on a contract. The lower Court properly overruled the special demurrer.

The judgment is affirmed.