Defendant’s motion to dismiss this appeal must be granted.
Plaintiff brought suit against defendant for specific performance of the following written instrument signed by both parties:
“This is an agreement between L. H. Nelson to sell his 160 acre farm 2 miles South of Kerkhoven to Wilton Erickson for the sum of $205 per acre on the basis of 160 acres. This day of Oct. 16, 1963. The seller to provide clear title and pay the 1963 real estate taxes. The buyer to pay down $500 until the deal is completed.”
Defendant answered on March 18, 1964. Notice of lis pendens was not filed until April 26, 1965. The action was noticed for trial by plaintiff and tried by the court without a jury on November 30, 1965. On December 28, 1965, the court made findings that “in effect plaintiff abandoned” his right to purchase under the agreement and denied plaintiff any relief. The conclusions of law provide for a dismissal of the action with prejudice and that “[a] stay of 30 days is granted” but omit the usual direction,
The court’s dismissal of the action after trial, accompanied by findings
as required by Rule 41.02, Rules of Civil Procedure, is in every essential respect an adjudication on the merits denying all relief and does not merely “operate” as such under the language of the rule. As clearly contemplated by the findings and as required by Rule 58.01 when “all relief [is] denied,” the clerk must forthwith enter judgment upon expiration of the stay without application therefor by the parties and despite the absence of an express direction by the court. Orders which require the entry of judgment are not final orders and, as to such orders, the purpose of Rule 58.01 is to hasten the entry of judgment, thus achieving finality. Unlike a dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, as in Bulau v. Bulau,
Although our disposition renders unnecessary a review of the merits, because arguments were submitted, we express our conclusion that not only is the evidence sufficient to support the court’s finding of an abandonment but it is also apparent that the agreement by reason of being incomplete as to the time of payment and performance is incapable of specific enforcement. Rahm v. Cummings,
Appeal dismissed.
