Weisgerber v. Prescher

217 P. 615, 37 Idaho 653, 1923 Ida. LEXIS 175

• Court: Idaho Supreme Court
• Decided: August 4, 1923
• Status: Published

Opinion

MCCARTHY, J.

— On August 9, 1915, the appellant, then known as Pearl R. Lancaster, secured a divorce from Wilber E. Lancaster in the district court for Bonner county, Idaho. November 15, 1915, she married one H. G. Prescher at Thompson Falls, Montana. February 2,1921, Prescher began an action in the district court for Bonner county, Idaho, for an annulment of the marriage claiming that it was null and void because performed within six months after she obtained her divorce. Appellant not appearing in that action a default was entered and also a decree annulling the marriage. October 29, 1921, Harry G. Prescher died. November 11, 1921, appellant filed a motion and affidavit of merits asking that her default be set aside, the decree be vacated and she be allowed to interpose an answer. The ground of her motion was that the default judgment was taken against her through inadvertence and excusable neglect, she claiming that she was induced not to answer by representations, statements and conduct of Prescher tending to show that he did not intend to further prosecute the action. The district court on her motion ordered John Weisgerber, administrator of Prescher’s estate substituted as plaintiff in the action. It also denied her motion, basing its action upon the ground that the showing of excusable neglect is not sufficient to justify the court in setting aside the decree. Whether that ground is sound or not it is elementary that the order should be sustained if there is any ground for doing so.

The action was an out-and-out action for annulment with nothing said about property rights. Property rights are not mentioned in the findings nor decree. The only relief granted is the annulment of the marriage. A simple action for divorce is extinguished by the death of one of the parties. (Kirschner v. Dietrich, 110 Cal. 502, 42 Pac. 1064; Begbie v. Begbie, 128 Cal. 154, 60 Pac. 667; Hite v. Mercantile Trust Co., 156 Cal. 765, 106 Pac. 102; Dwyer v. Nolan, 40 Wash. 459, 11 Am. St. 919, 5 Ann. Cas. 890, 82 Pac. 746, 1 L. R. A., N. S., 551; Zoellner v. Zoellner, 46 Mich. 911, 9 N. W. 831.) On the other hand, if the issues in the action expressly involve property rights the action is not extinguished by death so far as that issue is concerned, but survives. (Lima v. Lima, 26 Cal. App. 1, 147 Pac. 237; Nickerson v. Nickerson, 34 Or. 1, 48 Pac. 423, 54 Pac. 277.) The same rules apply to an action for annulment. In the present case the action was a simple one for annulment, property rights not being in issue. The decree of the district court acted on the marriage status but was silent as to property rights. Then followed the death of the plaintiff in the original action. It is impossible to hold that the action survived so that appellant could have the administrator substituted as plaintiff, have the default set aside, and interpose a defense.

It was suggested on the argument although it is not shown in the record, that property rights are involved in the controversy because the deceased had an insurance policy. If this be true it could not possibly be a ground for reviving the original action. Whether or not appellant has an independent remedy to set aside the judgment and establish her rights to any property involved, we do not decide in this case because those questions are not properly before us.

The judgment is affirmed, with costs to respondent.

Dunn, William A. Lee and Wm. E'. Lee, JJ., concur.