Andrews v. Carlile , 20 Colo. 370 ( 1894 )

Mr. Justice Goddard

delivered the opinion of the court.

The objections urged against the judgment in this case are more technical than substantial. The right of defendants in error to institute a joint action against all of the defendants is clear; and the right of defendants to make separate defenses, and to demand separate trials, is equally well established. Love v. Wilbourn, 5 Iredell, 344; Jackson v. Woods et al., 5 Johns. Rep. 278; Greer et al. v. Mezes et al., 24 How. (U. S.) 268; Walker v. Read, 59 Tex. 187; Smith et al. v. Shackleford, 9 Dana, 452.

Yet it does not follow that because defendants filed separate answers, setting up a separate defense to distinct portions of the land described in the complaint, that separate findings and judgments against them must be had. While they may require separate trials, findings and judgments, unless they do so in proper time a joint judgment may well be rendered against them, under the allegations of the complaint. Smith v. Shackleford, supra; Winans v. Christy, 4 Cal. 70; Jackson v. Scoville, 5 Wend. 95; Ellis v. Jeans, 26 Cal. 272; Lick v. Stockdale, 18 Cal. 219.

In this case it does not appear that a request for separate findings and judgments was made by plaintiffs in error, nor was there any objection or exception made to the judgment as rendered; but, on the other hand, it does appear that by consent the actions, as originally brought, were consolidated and tried together as one case; and it may well be presumed, since the evidence introduced and the proceedings had on the trial have not been preserved, that the judgment was rendered in pursuance of a stipulation, or at least by the consent of counsel for plaintiffs in error. As was said in the case of Martin v. Force, 3 Colo. 199: “ To support the verdict of the jury or the finding of the court, we are bound to make every fair and just intendment. The proceedings of the lower court must be presumed to have been regular in every respect, unless the contrary appears in the record.”

We cannot perceive wherein the plaintiffs in error were in any way prejudiced by the form of the judgment as rendered. It can no more injure them for the judgment to be against all for the possession of the entire premises than for the part each occupied, but would rather redound to their benefit, since the entry of separate judgments for possession would necessarily increase their costs, and the separate findings and judgments against each as to damages we must assume were sustained by the evidence introduced upon the trial, and adopted by the court as better securing the ends of justice in the case in the least burdensome manner to defendants. If it may be said that the judgment, being a joint judgment for the possession, and separate as to damages, if rendered without consent, is technically erroneous, it is an error in no way prejudicial to the rights of plaintiffs in error, and hence would not constitute reversible error. As held in the case of Schoolfield v. Houle, 13 Colo. 394: “ It is not every error that calls for a reversal of a judgment. To have this effect the error must appear to have been prejudicial to the parties seeking to take advantage of it.” And as expressly enacted in section 78, Code of 1887: “The court shall in every stage of an action disregard any error or defect in the pleadings or proceedings which shall not affect the substantial rights of the parties, and no judgment shall be reversed or affected by reason of such error or defect.”

The further assignment of error, that the judgments for damages are excessive, because in the aggregate in excess of the ad damnum, is without merit. The defendants having answered, the plaintiff is not limited to the relief demanded in his complaint. Sec. 169, Code of 1887; Becker v. Pugh, 9 Colo. 589; Kayser v. Maugham, 8 Colo. 232.

We are of the opinion that the record fails to disclose any error that would justify a reversal of the judgment. The judgment is therefore affirmed.

Affirmed.