Robinson v. Missouri Pacific Transportation Co.

93 S.W.2d 311, 192 Ark. 593, 1936 Ark. LEXIS 128
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedApril 20, 1936
Docket4-4276
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 93 S.W.2d 311 (Robinson v. Missouri Pacific Transportation Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Robinson v. Missouri Pacific Transportation Co., 93 S.W.2d 311, 192 Ark. 593, 1936 Ark. LEXIS 128 (Ark. 1936).

Opinion

Mehaffy, J.

The appellant, Mrs. Fearney Robinson, brought suit in the Saline Circuit Court against the appellee for $3',000 damages, alleging that she was injured by the negligence of the appellee. The appellee filed answer and among other things, alleged in the answer “that its agent, in good faith and without prejudice, paid the full amount that appellee demanded, and that said payment discharged any and all claims for injury,” There was a verdict and judgment for $2,500 in favor of appellant, Mrs. Robinson, and appeal was prosecuted, and on October 14, 1935, the judgment of the Saline Circuit Court was affirmed by this court. Robinson v. Missouri Pac. T. Co., 191 Ark. 428, 86 S. W. (2d) 913.

On December 9, 1935, the appellee filed suit in the Pulaski Chancery Court against Mrs. Fearney Robinson, Kenneth C. Coffelt, W. J. Kirby, Thomas C. Watson, Dr. M. M. Blakeley, Dr. William Feldman, Dr. A. J. McGill, Ethel Jaco way and R. J. Ashby. The petition in this case alleged that the Missouri Pacific Transportation Company had paid to Mrs. Fearney Robinson, the sum of $65, a day or two after the injury, in full settlement of her claim, and that that amount has never been refunded to.it. It prayed that an order be made by the Pulaski Chancery Court that the amount of $65 be paid to it out of any funds in the court going to Mrs. Fearney Robinson.

Appellants filed answer denying the allegations in the petition, and alleging that the matter had already been passed upon by a court of competent jurisdiction, and that the Missouri Pacific- Transportation Company has no right or claim to any portion of the money, and that Mrs. Robinson is not indebted to appellee in any sum for anything.

The ca.se was tried in the chancery court on the following* agreed statement of facts: “Comes on for hearing the petition of the plaintiff, Missouri Pacific Transportation Company, asking that the court allow it $65 out of the fund paid into the registry of this court in the above cause adjudged to be due Mrs. Fearney Robinson, and the answer of defendant, • Mrs. Fearney Robinson, to said petition, and both parties agreeing that the cause may be submitted to the court for decision upon said petition of plaintiff, and the answer thereto of said defendant, and upon the following agreed .statement of facts, to-wit: -

“On the 3d day of November, 1934, Mrs. Fearney Robinson, defendant herein, filed suit in the circuit court of Saline County, Arkansas, against the- plaintiff herein, Missouri Pacific Transportation Company, alleging that she was negligently injured by it because of a defect in a certain metal stripping on the floor of its bus, when, in attempting to alight from its bus at Benton, on or about said date, she fell to the ground.
‘ ‘ She alleged that, within a few hours thereafter, the company fraudulently obtained a release from her for the consideration of $65, releasing it from any further liability to her for her said injury. Defendant company answered, denying all of plaintiff’s allegations in her complaint, and charged her with contributory negligence. The cause was tried before a court and jury at the March term of said circuit court, 1935, and the jury rendered a verdict for her in the sum of $2,500, she having sued for $3,000, and in her complaint asked that said release be set aside. The cause was appealed by the Missouri Pacific Transportation Company to the Supreme Court of the State of Arkansas, and on the ..............................day of................................................, 1935, the cause was affirmed by the Supreme Court. On the..............................day of................................................, 1935, said company filed in this, the chancery court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, its bill of interpleader, in which it paid into the registry of this court said judgment of $2,500 and accrued interest and cost which had been affirmed by the Supreme Court, alleging that certain parties, including said Mrs. Fearney Robinson, had different interests in said sum, and asking that said court decree as to whom and in what amounts said money should be paid.
“This court has decreed that out of said fund $700.73 shall go to said Mrs. Fearney Robinson.
“It is further agreed that Mrs. Fearney Robinson actually received the $65, and there was no issue made in the trial of the original suit as to its return, and no instruction was given in reference to its return.”

Appellee states that this case presents two questions: First, Is the question res judicata? Second, Is appellee entitled to the return of the money paid for the release?

Appellee calls attention first to the case of O. A. Pattison v. Seattle, Renton & Southern Railway Co., 64 Wash. 370, 116 Pac. 1089, 35 L. R. A. (N. S.) 660. It quotes from said case the following: “According to the larger number of cases, it is unnecessary to return or tender the consideration for a release obtained by fraud, as a requisite to the maintenance of a suit for the damages resulting from the injury, it being* sufficient that the amount be deducted from the verdict if one is obtained ag’ainst defendant. ’ ’

Among the larger number of cases are the cases decided by this court. It is the established rule of this court that it is unnecessary to return or tender the consideration for a release obtained by fraud, as a requisite to the maintenance of a suit for damages. This was recognized by appellee in the case in the Saline Circuit Court. It did not ask the return of the $65. It is, however, conceded by appellee that the rule established by this court is that it is unnecessary to tender or return the consideration.

Appellee next cites and quotes from 53 C. J. 1232. Immediately following the quotation from C. J., in the same paragraph, is the following: “But there is authority to the effect that such restoration or tender need not be made.” The text cites several Arkansas cases. In fact, it has been many times held by this court that a tender or return is not necessary.

A recent case is Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Elvins, 176 Ark. 737, 4 S. W. (2d) 528.

Appellee cites and relies on the case of Cowling v. Nelson, 76 Ark. 146, 88 S. W. 913, in which it is stated: “This is true, and his action bound her in everything which the partition suit could validly accomplish — a partition of the lands and, where it is found incapable of partition without great prejudice, then a sale. These are the only issuable matters to be presented. On them she is bound. Beyond them she is not.” Then follows the quotation relied on by appellee: “Litigants do not place themselves for all purposes under the control of the court, and it is only the interests involved in the particular suit that can be affected by the adjudication. Over other matters the court has no jurisdiction, and any decree or judgment relating to them is void.”

Tlie release in this case was pleaded by appellee, and the appellant, Mrs. Robinson, admitted that she had received the $65. We have many times held that all questions within the issue, whether formally litigated or not, are settled by the decision of the court.

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Bluebook (online)
93 S.W.2d 311, 192 Ark. 593, 1936 Ark. LEXIS 128, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/robinson-v-missouri-pacific-transportation-co-ark-1936.