Missouri Pacific Ry. Co. v. Knight , 111 Okla. 21 ( 1925 )

W. A. Knight lost his life while an employ of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company as a switchman; Bertha Knight, his widow, as administratrix, commenced her action against the railway for the use and benefit of the estate of the decedent, and the next of kin; judgment went for the plaintiff, and was distributed to Bertha Knight, widow, Myrtle Knight, and Edward Knight, children of the deceased. Dessie Knight, who alleged that she was one of the children of the decedent, later filed application in the original cause to set aside the judgment on the ground of fraud committed by the administratrix in precluding her from the recovery. She prayed that the judgment be set aside, and that she be permitted to recover of the railway such damages as she suffered by the wrongful death of her father. The railway company filed demurrer to the application to set aside the judgment, which was overruled by the court. The railway has appealed from the overruling of the demurrer to this court by transcript.

The applicant makes the point that the action of the court in overruling the defendant's demurrer is not an appealable order.

The action of the court in overruling the defendant's demurrer did not terminate the further defenses which the defendant might make in the proceeding. The burden is on the applicant to show legal grounds for setting aside the judgment, and to establish her right to relief in the action against the railway company. The defendant may interpose an objection to the introduction of evidence to establish the applicant's right to set aside the former judgment, and to recover in the action; the defendant may interpose a demurrer to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the relief prayed for by the applicant; the defendant may appeal from adverse rulings on the demurrers. The defendant may interpose these demurrers even though it should not file an answer in the cause, for the reason the burden is on the applicant to establish her right to relief by sufficient and competent evidence. The action of the court in overruling the defendant's demurrer did not terminate the litigation adversely to the defendant.

The statute and rules of procedure should be construed and applied so as to prevent piece-mealing in the prosecution of a suit, or its defenses. It is the purpose of the statute that a suit pass through the final stages of its trial below before it is brought here on appeal. Such procedure expedites the final termination of the litigation, and at the same time enables this court to pass upon all legal questions involved in the action with the entire record before it.

The appeal of the plaintiff in error is not predicated upon a reviewable order, and should be dismissed. Exchange Oil Co. v. Crews, 90 Okla. 245, 221 P. 674.

It is recommended that the appeal be dismissed.

By the Court: It is so ordered.