66 Fla. 20 | Fla. | 1913
For prior appeals in this cause see Hull v. Burr, 58 Fla. 432, 50 South. Rep. 754; 61 Fla. 625, 55 South. Rep. 852; 62 Fla. 499, 56 South. Rep. 673; 64 Fla. 59 South. Rep. 787.
Burr as trustee in bankruptcy brought suit against Hull and others. A supplemental bill was filed for the purpose of making new parties complainant. Exceptions to an answer to this supplemental bill were sustained and such order was affirmed in Hull v. Burr, 64 Fla., 59 South. Rep. 787. A replication was filed to the answer as it remained after exceptions to portions thereof were sustained. Subsequently the defendants below sought to present hv cross-bill seeking affirmative relief, practically the same matters that had been presented by the answer to the supplemental bill and held to be insufficient on appeal to this court. The trial court denied a motion to file amendments to the answer and also denied a motion to strike the cross bill to the supplemental hill with leave to the cross defendants to plead, answer or demur to the
The orders here complained of are appealable. See Guggenhiemer & Co. v. Davidson, 62 Fla. 490, 56 South. Rep. 801; State ex. rel. Burbridge v. Call, 41 Fla. 450, 26 South. Rep. 1016; Sec. 1908 Gen. Stats. of 1906.
The cross bill prayed that the adjudication of the bankruptcy court of Massachusetts be declared null and void and that the cross defendants be enjoined from asserting in any court that they are trustees in bankruptcy as .claimed by them.
It appears that the matters sought to be set up by cross bill as a basis for affirmative relief against the supplemental bill are in greater part at least and in legal effect practically the same as those set up by the answer to the supplemental'bill, which matters were held to be insufficient on exceptions to the answer. Hull v. Burr, 64 Fla. 59 South. Rep. 787. In so far as the allegations of the cross bill 'were not in effect contained in the answer and held insufficient, they would be as effective by answer as by cross bill, making the cross bill unnecessary. Matters held insufficient in the answer cannot be presented by cross bill since they are res adjudieata in the cause.
Striking a pleading is a severe remedy and should be resorted to only in cases palpably requiring it for the proper administration of justice. Ray v. Williams, 55 Fla. 723, 46 South. Rep. 158. And while a pleading in proper form, duly authenticated and filed, should not be
After the exceptions to the answer to the supplemental bill was sustained, the defendants did not present other matters as amendments to the answer, but the defendants undertake to present by cross bill to the supplemental bill matters that have been adjudicated in the cause both in the trial court and on appeal by the sustaining of exceptions to portions of the answer, and the cross bill is not consistent with the averments and denials of the answer as it now stands. Under these circumstances the cross bill is not properly a part of the record of the cause and it should be eliminated. Whether the cross bill should be excluded by demurrer or motion or other procedure, no harm results from striking it with leave to the defendants to the original and 'supplemental bill to present any defense they may have by appropriate procedure, provided they do not again present matters that have been adjudicated in the cause, at least unless leave to do so is granted
The order denying- the motion to strike the- cross bill is reversed.
