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Prueliage v. De Seaton Corporation
380 S.W.2d 403
Mo.
1964
Check Treatment
STOCKARD, Commissioner.

George Ogilvy has appealed from the order of the trial court reviving a judgment which had previously been еntered against him. The total amount of the judgment with accrued interest thereon is $8,931.72. It is thus apparent that this cоurt does not have appellate jurisdiction of this appeal by reason of the amount in dispute. Thеrefore, we must determine whether we have jurisdiction for some other reason.

Briefly stated, the facts are as follows: The original judgment was obtained against George Ogilvy and others on August 12, 1952. Thereafter Ogilvy was dischargеd in bankruptcy and the judgment was listed in the schedule of debts in the bankruptcy proceeding. On August 10, 1962, respondent filed her motion for a ‍​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‍writ of scire facias to revive the judgment, which motion was sustained and the writ issued. Ogilvy answered therеto and alleged that (1) he was “not indebted to the judgment debtor or the purported assignee thereof;” (2) thе obligation “has been paidand (3) he had been “adjudicated a bankrupt” and had “received *405 a dischаrge in bankruptcy.” After a hearing the trial court entered its order reviving the judgment as prayed.

Appellant asserts in the jurisdictional statement in his brief that this court has jurisdiction because “among the points relied on by aрpellant here, and in the court below, are these: [1] That the judgment against appellant ignores and fails to give due legal effect to said bankruptcy discharge of appellant from said judgment indebtedness and so violates and contravenes the provisions of Article I, Section 8, Clause 4, of the Constitution of the Unitеd States under which the Congress of the United States ‍​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‍is empowered to establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruрtcies throughout the United States; and, further, [2] that the judgment of the trial court for the same reason also violates Article VI, Clause 2, of the Constitution of the United States under which it is provided that the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the United States “which shall be made in Pursuance thereof * * * shall be the supreme Law of the Land; аnd the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, [etc.]”

We need not rule whether the above statements, if made in a point relied on, would be sufficient to present for determination on this appeal constitutional questions within the meaning of Article V, Section 3, Constitution of Missouri, V.A.M.S. See, however, the discussion and rulings in State ex rel. Dоniphan Telephone Company v. Public Service Commission, Mo., 369 S.W.2d 572, and State ex rel. Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railrоad ‍​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‍Company v. Public Service Commission, Mo., 378 S.W.2d 459. In any event appellant did not timely present a constitutional question to the trial court. In his answer filed to the writ of scire facias he made no mention whatever of any constitutional question or issue. It has long been the rule that for a constitutional question to be preservеd for appellate review it must have been raised at the earliest opportunity consistent with goоd pleading and orderly procedure. State v. Lock, 302 Mo. 400, 259 S.W. 116; State v. Brookshire, Mo., 325 S.W.2d 497, 500. This appellant did not do.

In addition to the above, there is no constitutional question presented in the points relied on in appellant’s brief. Only two points appear in the brief, аnd they are in their entirety as follows: “By his discharge in bankruptcy the defendant-appellant was released and discharged from the scheduled judgment attempted to be revived against him herein,” and “The court erred in оrdering the judgment against appellant George Ogilvy revived subsequent to his release in bankruptcy.” Civil Rule 83.05, V.A.M.R., providеs that a brief shall contain “The points relied on, which ‍​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‍shall show what actions or rulings of the Court are sought to be reviewed and wherein and why they are claimed to be erroneous, with citation of authorities thereunder; * * *.” The questions for decision on appeal are those stated in the points relied on, and a question not there presented will be considered abandoned on appeal and no longer an issue in thе case. A constitutional question is not presented for appellate review by mention only in the jurisdictional statement or by casual reference in the argument portion of the brief. See State v. Brookshire, supra, 325 S.W.2d at p. 500, and the cases there cited. We necessarily conclude that no constitutional question is presented for appellate review.

Appellant does not contend that this court has appellate jurisdiction on any other basis. Since the bankruptcy statutes are involved, a possible ground for аppellate jurisdiction of this court might be that this is a case involving the “validity of a * * statute of the United States, or any authority exercised under the laws ‍​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‍of the United States.” See Art. V, Sec. 3, Constitution of Missouri. However, reference to the only points relied on, as above set out, shows that no such issue is there presented. In additiоn, appellant does not challenge or question the validity of the bankruptcy statute or the validity of any act done under the authority *406 of a law of the United States. On the contrary, he relies on their validity. Therefore, appellate jurisdiction in this court cannot exist on this basis. See Salzwedel v. Vassil, Mo., 347 S.W.2d 218.

We necessarily conclude that this court does not have jurisdiction of this appeal, and for that reason the case is transferred to the St. Louis Court of Appeals.

BARRETT and PRITCHARD, CC., concur.

PER CURIAM.

The foregoing opinion by STOCKARD, C., is adopted as the opinion of the Court.

All of the Judges concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Prueliage v. De Seaton Corporation
Court Name: Supreme Court of Missouri
Date Published: Jul 13, 1964
Citation: 380 S.W.2d 403
Docket Number: 50333
Court Abbreviation: Mo.
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