O'Rourke v. O'Rourke

58 Colo. 300 | Colo. | 1914

Mr. Justice Bailey

delivered the opinion of the court:

On May 27, 1912, defendant in error, Michael S. 0 ’Rourke, filed complaint in divorce, in the County Court of Huerfano County, against plaintiff in error, Adeline O’Rourke, alleging cruelty, adultery and desertion. Defendant interposed a motion to change the venue of the cause to Pueblo County, supported by affidavit of her residence in that county and service of summons there. Plaintiff filed an affidavit resisting the motion, stating his residence and lawful domicile to- be in Huerfano County, and that defendant being his wife had her legal residence also in that county. The motion was overruled.

Defendant, for a first defense, denied the alleged acts of desertion, cruelty and adultery, and for a second, separate and independent defense, interposed a formal plea of condonation. In this plea it is alleged, in substance, that in June, 1909, plaintiff commenced an action against defendant for divorce in Pueblo County, setting up substantially the same facts that are relied upon for divorce in his amended complaint in this case, which former suit was dismissed after issue joined; also that in July, 1910, defendant brought an action against plaintiff in the same county for separate maintenance, which was dismissed on January 21st, 1911; and that in January, 1912, they cohabited and lived together as husband and wife.

Plaintiff filed a motion to strike that part of the answer relative to condonation, upon the ground that a general denial having been entered it was not competent for the defendant to interpose a plea of confession and avoidance, such as condonation, because it is antagonistic to, in conflict with and destructive of the defense tendered by the general denial. That motion was sustained. A. replication was thereupon filed. Hpon trial a jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, finding defendant guilty of cruelty and desertion, and judgment was entered thereon. Thereafter defendant filed a petition to set aside the decree and reopen the case, which was overruled. She brings the case here on error.

The motion of defendant for a change of venue, sufficiently supported as it was, should have been allowed. However, upon the overruling of such motion, she voluntarily answered and went to trial without further objection. This action reinvested the court with judisdiction and waived her right to the change, because the court had jurisdiction of the subject-matter of the suit, it having been brought in one of the three counties in which plaintiff might properly bring it.—Christ v. Flannigan, 23 Colo. 140; 146 Pac. 683; Phoenix Indemnity Co. v. Gregor, 39 Colo. 193, 88 Pac. 1066.

On the ground that denial and condonation are inconsistent, contradictory and antagonistic defenses, the court, on motion of plaintiff, struck the plea of condonation. This was reversible error. This action deprived the defendant of a defense to which she was entitled.— Mills’ Ann. Code, § 59. It is unnecessary to discuss the argument of counsel upon this point, for this case is, in any event, plainly within the established rule.—Koll v. Bush, 6 Colo. App. 294, 297, 40 Pac. 579; Carlile v. People, 27 Colo. 116, 59 Pac. 48; Hill v. Groesbeck, 29 Colo. 161, 67 Pac. 167; Conrey v. Nichols, 35 Colo. 478, 84 Pac. 470; Pike v. Sutton, 21 Colo. 84, 39 Pac. 1084; Denver Co. v. Gast, 54 Colo. 17, 20, 129 Pac. 233.

Counsel for defendant in error adroitly and persuasively argue that there was included in the general denial averments which sufficiently presented the issue of condonation, and therefore, in the absence of any record showing the contrary, the evidence and instructions of the court not having been brought up, it must be presumed that this issue was in fact tried, submitted to the jury and determined adversely to the defendant. A complete answer to this contention is that the assumption of counsel that such a plea is found in the first defense is without foundation in fact, for it contains no sufficient plea of condonation or anything approaching such a plea.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to the lower court to permit defendant to file an amended answer, amending generally, as she may he advised.

Reversed and remanded.

Chxee Justice Musser and Mr. Justice White concur.