274 N.W. 485 | Neb. | 1937
Appellant, hereinafter referred to as plaintiff, sustained a fractured hip as a result of a fall on the 20th day of January, 1926, and appellee, a duly licensed and practicing physician and surgeon, hereinafter referred to as defendant, was employed to treat such injury.
In June, 1928, plaintiff filed an action in the district court for Douglas county, Nebraska, praying damages from defendant for alleged malpractice in the treatment of such injuries. To this petition, a motion was filed, and no further action was taken with reference thereto until in the year 1930, when the attorney originally employed by plaintiff withdrew from the action and other attorneys were employed, and an amended petition was filed. Defendant filed an answer to such amended petition. In October, 1930,
It is the contention of the plaintiff that the attorney representing her on February 9, 1931, did not advise her
This court is committed to the rule that equity will not afford relief if the complainant has a remedy by statutory proceeding in the original action, and that to be entitled to equitable relief a party must not have neglected to avail himself of the statutory remedy. See Brandeen v. Beale, 117 Neb. 291, 220 N. W. 298; Krause v. Long, 109 Neb. 846, 192 N. W. 729.
Plaintiff’s attorney of record was present on February 9, 1931, when the order of dismissal was entered, and he was fully advised at all times of the action taken. It has been repeatedly held by this court that notice to the attorney of record is notice to the party represented by such attorney. Marshall v. Rowe, 126 Neb. 817, 254 N. W. 480; Goergen v. Department of Public Works, 123 Neb. 648, 243 N. W. 886.
No good cause has been shown by plaintiff why proceedings were not instituted to vacate the order of dismissal within the two-year period provided by section 20-2008, Comp. St. 1929. Even after plaintiff discovered the situation, she delayed for a year and a half before taking any action whatsoever, and more than two years before filing her amended petition on which the trial was had. Five separate attorneys or firms of attorneys represented plaintiff up to the time of the dismissal of her action, three of whom withdrew at various times when the case was noted for trial. Each time the defendant had gone to considerable expense in preparing for trial. Defendant was entitled to a final disposition of the suit against him within a reasonable time, and the trial court did not err in dismissing plaintiff’s action for want of prosecution, and we find no error in the decree of the equity court in refusing to set aside the order of dismissal.
The decree appealed from was proper and is
Affirmed.