116 A.2d 576 | Conn. Super. Ct. | 1955
In this action plaintiffs seek a partition by sale of the real estate described in the complaint. The plaintiff Freedman, administrator of the estate of Martin A. Kociper, the plaintiff Martin M. Kociper and the defendant Elizabeth M. Kociper are tenants in common of said property. In open court, counsel for the defendant admitted the allegations of the complaint but relies on the special defense of res adjudicata by virtue of the judgment in the case of Elizabeth M. Kociper v. Martin M.Kociper and Harry Freedman, Administrator ofthe Estate of Martin A. Kociper,
As to the prayer for a partition, the court (King,J.) in its memorandum said: "The fifth prayer for relief sought a partition by sale. Counsel for the parties have agreed to proceed under General Statutes §§ 7031 and 7032; that no judgment for partition by sale should enter here; and thus that this prayer for relief is abandoned as far as this proceeding is concerned." The parties did not proceed under §§ 7031 and 7032 and the plaintiffs brought this action. Defendant claims that the matter is now res adjudicata.
It is well recognized by courts that "[a] final judgment on the merits is conclusive on the parties and their privies as to the cause of action involved. If the same cause of action is again sued upon, the judgment is conclusive with respect to any claims relating to the cause of action which were actually made or might have been made." BridgeportHydraulic Co. v. Pearson,
"`A matter not decided, and not necessarily determined by the judgment, is not concluded, although put in issue by the pleadings, especially where the matter pleaded was not actually litigated ... made the subject of the trial, submitted to the jury, or pressed upon the consideration of the court. And for stronger reasons is this true where the judgment expressly reserves the question, or declares that it was not in issue.'" Brady v. Anderson,
Gillet v. Powell,
In the case of Kociper v. Kociper,
The defendant in her brief also relies on § 8239 of the General Statutes, which reads as follows: "No partition, or sale in lieu of partition, shall be made of any property, real or personal, belonging wholly to an estate in settlement in any court of probate until such estate shall be ready for distribution." That statute has no application to the case at bar, since the interest of the decedent's estate is one-third, and obviously the property does not belong "wholly to an estate in settlement." Fountain
v. Cramer,
Subject to and upon the determination of the identity of a committee of sale, a decree may be entered directing a sale of the property, subject to the mortgage to the Home Owners Loan Corporation, as of record. The proceeds of such sale shall be paid into court for disposition in accordance with § 8238 of the General Statutes.