This is a ruling on a motion by defendants to dismiss or for summary judgment. The plaintiff alleges that his former wife, Lauretta M. Cimijotti, and two other women, Frances Paulsen and Clarice Sprout, conspired to damage his person, reputation, and property.
The defendants have moved for summary judgment for the following reasons: (1) that conspiracy alone is not actionable in Iowa unless something is done which without the conspiracy would give rise to a cause of action and that no actionable cause has been alleged; (2) that the statute of limitations has run on any action; (3) that the testimony which would be essential to the cause of action alleged is privileged by Iowa statute and thus the plaintiff cannot
*41 prove his cause by admissible evidence; and (4) that since the alleged statements were made only to the Catholic Church for proceedings before a Church tribunal created and existing under the laws and regulations of the Church, the same is privileged against the action alleged.
It is admitted in the plaintiff’s Complaint that Lauretta M. Cimijotti was the wife of the plaintiff during the time the acts in question were allegedly committed.
A husband may not join his ex-wife in an action alleging conspiracy to commit a tort unless the applicable law allows the husband to sue the wife alone for the tort alleged. Singer v. Singer,
As to the claim against Frances Paul-sen and Clarice Sprout, the allegations against these two parties are that they made statements to the Catholic Church or priests of the Catholic Church which allegedly damaged the plaintiff in his person, property, and character. It is not alleged that any of the statements were made other than to the Catholic Church or priests of the Catholic Church except as it was communicated between themselves and Frederick Beck, attorney for Lauretta M. Cimijotti. The plaintiff’s complaint admits that the statements were made so that Lauretta M. Cimijotti could obtain sanctions from the Catholic Church for separate maintenance and divorce. There was no publication of statements by the defendants except to the Church. This fact is supported by the uncontradicted affidavits.
The First Amendment states Congress may make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. The First Amendment applies to the States as well as to Congress. To allow slander actions to be based solely upon statements made to the Church before its recognized officials and under its disciplines and regulations would be a violation of the First Amendment. The law withdraws from the State any exertion of restraint on free exercise of religion. The freedom of speech does not protect one against slander, yet a person must be free to say anything and everything to his Church, at least so long as it is said in a recognized and required proceeding of the religion and to a recognized official of the religion. This does not mean that in some instances it may not have to be disclosed, but nonetheless the person must not be prohibited, by fear of court action either civil or criminal against his person or property, from actually making the communication. Also, the court is not holding that it would not be actionable if communicated to other third persons. Likewise, it might be actionable if made outside strictly religious activities. There is nothing in the affidavits filed March 12, 1964, which requires any contrary conclusion.
In the prior ruling in this case cited at
In the previous ruling in the case,
It has been admitted by the attorney for the plaintiff that he does not have evidence to sustain his allegations and cannot make out a cause of action if the court’s previous ruling as to the privilege against disclosure is correct. The court having held these communications to be privileged under Section 622.10 of the Iowa Code, I.C.A., must now hold that there is no evidence upon which to submit this cause for trial and summary judgment will accordingly be granted. Summary judgment is the appropriate remedy where the rules of law such as the priest-penitent privilege clearly demonstrate that the only evidence which plaintiff could offer would be privileged. This is the situation in this case. The affidavits filed March 12, 1964, by plaintiff do not make an issue. The affidavits of Anna and Josephine Cimijotti deal with communications to Father Kruse which are barred by the statute of limitations. The plaintiff would have no substantial evidence to prove his allegations at trial. Genuine issues which will preclude entry of summary judgment ai-e issues which can be sustained by substantial evidence. Riss & Company v. Association of American Railroads, D.C.,
The court is not deciding any issue of disputed facts which, of course, it cannot do on the motion for summary judgment. Doza v. American National Insurance Co.,
The court is, however, also granting summary judgment because the statute of limitations has run on this cause of action. While it does not completely appear on the face of the complaint that the statute of limitations has run, the depositions and the affidavits show clearly that the statute has run on this cause of action.
The statute of limitations in Iowa on defamation is two years. Section 614.1 Iowa Code, I.C.A.; Jean v. Hennessy,
“The distinction between the application of a Statute of Limitations in a criminal conspiracy case and such application in a civil case based upon a conspiracy has been clearly pointed out in Momand v. Universal *43 Film Exchanges, 1 Cir., 172 F.2d [37] 47, at page 49. There it is shown that in a criminal prosecution the Statute of Limitations does not begin to run until the last overt act performed in compliance with the original agreement has been accomplished. A civil case, however, is based upon the damage caused by the commission of the overt act and the applicable statute must run from the time of the commission of that act which is alleged to have caused the damage. The reason is obvious as pointed out both in the Momand ease and in Northern Kentucky Telephone Co. v. Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., 6 Cir.,73 F.2d 333 ,97 A.L.R. 133 , certiorari denied294 U.S. 719 ,55 S.Ct. 546 ,79 L.Ed. 1251 .
“If the Statute of Limitations had no precise date, as the happening of the overt act, from which it could be computed, then there could be no limitation of actions at all applicable where the conspiracy continued. Of even greater importance is the fact that the injured party would seem to have no right of action so long as the conspirators chose to keep the conspiracy in a continuing state. The Statute of Limitations must run from the commission of the several overt acts complained of.”
See also the cases cited in Skouras Theatres Corporation v. Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corp., D.C.,
The defendants filed affidavits on January 9, 1964, which clearly show that the statements allegedly made by Frances Paulsen and Clarice Sprout were made more than two years prior to the time the action was started. The plaintiff has filed no affidavits contesting this position. The affidavits filed by plaintiff on March 12, 1964, do not rebut the fact that these statements were made more than two years prior to the time the action was filed. The plaintiff’s resistance to motion for summary judgment filed February 27, 1964, is not attested and its allegations are not supported by affidavits. Under Rule 56, statements in uncontradicted affidavits may be taken as basis for granting summary judgment. This was the majority rule before the 1963 amendment to Rule 56 and now the minority rule which held to the contrary has been eliminated by the amendment. Accordingly, the court concludes that the statute of limitations has run on any action against Frances Paul-sen and Clarice Sprout.
The court is not holding that the statute of limitations has run on the acts of Lauretta M. Cimijotti, but since she could not be validly joined in an action alleging conspiracy to commit a tort against her then husband, these acts of hers are of no consequence.
Accordingly, it will be Ordered that the action against Lauretta M. Cimijotti will be dismissed on the basis of in-, terspousal immunity and because, in the circumstances of this case, the action for libel is barred by the First Amendment and the common law. The statements were absolutely privileged. It is further ordered that summary judgment will be entered in favor of Lauretta M. Cimijotti for the reason that the only evidence which could make an issue for the trier of fact is privileged under Section 622.10 of the Iowa Code, I.C.A.
It is ordered that the action against Frances Paulsen and Clarice Sprout will be dismissed for the reason that the action is under the circumstances of this case barred by the First Amendment *44 and the common law, the statements allegedly made being absolutely privileged. It is further ordered that summary judgment will be entered in favor of Frances Paulsen and Clarice Sprout for the reason that the statute of limitations now bars the action and because the only evidence which could make an issue for the trier of fact is barred by Section 622.10 of the Iowa Code, I.C.A.