Childs v. Mays , 73 Tex. 76 ( 1889 )

Henry, Associate Justice.—

This is a suit upon á promissory note for $550. Appellants* petition described it as a note for $500. When it ■was offered in evidence it was excluded on account of the variance, and plaintiffs took a nonsuit unconditionally. Within two days they filed a motion to set aside the judgment of dismissal. During the same term the judgment of dismissal was set aside and the cause reinstated upon plaintiffs paying all costs accrued up to that date. Afterward plaintiffs .amended, correctly describing their cause of action. At the time of the nonsuit more than four years had elapsed since the accrual of the cause of action, and when plaintiffs amended defendants pleaded by demurrer the four years statute of limitations, and the court, sustaining the demurrer, gave judgment in favor of defendants, from which plaintiffs prosecute this appeal.

It is assigned that the court erred in holding that plaintiffs’ nonsuitoperated as a voluntary abandonment of their cause of action and let in the statute of limitations. General expressions may be found to the effect that the bringing of a suit in which a voluntary nonsuit is taken does not have the effect of interrupting the running of the statute of limitations.

So far as we have been able to examine the cases the question has come up in other States in a subsequent and distinct suit upon the same cause of action, and usually in the assertion of a statutory privilege to institute a second suit within some limited period of time after the dismissal of the first.

In this State the question has arisen in subsequent and independent suits which did not involve the question now presented. Shields v. Boone, 22 Texas, 193; Hughes v. Lane, 25 Texas, 356.

We think our own statutes solve the question.

Article 1368 of the Revised Statutes provides, * * * “Judgments may be set aside on motion for good cause on such terms and conditions as the court shall direct.”

“All motions * * * to set aside a judgment shall be made within two days after the rendition of the verdict, if the term of the court shall continue so long—if not, then before the end of the term.” Ib., art. 1371. Such motions must be decided during the term. Ib., art. 1372.

When such judgment has been set aside the cause stands in all respects, as if it had never been rendered.

It is not a matter of course to set aside the judgment, but rather an exercise of the equitable discretion of the court upon the presentation of' sufficient cause, and then upon such conditions as shall provide adequate penalties and protection for all parties. Whatever conditions are imposed in a reasonable exercise of judicial discretion in setting aside the judgment of nonsuit must be submitted to; but when these conditions are complied with immunity against the judgment exists for all purposes. There will arise some cases in which such judgments ought to be unconditionally vacated, others in which they ought to be left in force.

The larger class of cases no doubt will be those in which they should be set aside upon such adequate terms as will meet the emergencies of the particular case.

It did not require a statute to allow plaintiffs to dismiss their cause of action at their own cost and afterwards institute a new suit subject to all defenses existing at the time of its institution. Without the judgment of nonsuit being set aside at all plaintiffs would have enjoyed all the rights accorded them in this ease by paying the costs and bringing a new suit.

The purpose of the statute is to preserve rights as they stand when proper equitable considerations exist or when the court in the sound exercise of its discretion may see proper to grant relief within the limits prescribed by the statute, and with the imposition of such terms, if the particular case demands them, as will guard against abuse and adequately protect the rights of other parties.

In this case the statute of limitations ceased to run when the suit was originally brought, and neither the judgment of nonsuit set aside at the term at which it was rendered nor the amendment of the petition correctly describing plaintiffs* cause of action can have any effect to make it run during the pendency of the suit.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

Delivered February 19, 1889.