Slettebak v. Slettebak , 48 S.D. 51 ( 1924 )

SHERWOOD, P. J.

R. L. Slettebak brought an action against Clara L, Slettebak, his wife, alleging facts, which if proven would constitute extreme cruelty, but in his prayer for relief asks only for:

(a) An absolute decree of separation.

(b) The care and custody of three minor children.

(c) Such other and further relief as may be just and equitable.

Defendant without making any objection to the form' of the complaint, or the jurisdiction of the court, appeared generally, and answered, denying the allegations of cruelty, and alleging in substance cruelty and non-support by respondent. She asked for the custody of the four minor children, alimiony, an equitable division of the property, with such other relief as she was equitably entitled to.

Numerous affidavits were filed by defendant, supporting her contention, and one by plaintiff’s supporting his. On this state of the pleadings appellant obtained an order to show cause, returnable December 15, 1922, at Yankton,, and on the 14th day of December, plaintiff and defendant entered into a stipulation in writing, settling their property rights; by the terms of which defendant was to receive three full sections of land in North Dakota, a tractor and plows, wagon, piano and a large amount of furniture, and some other property. She was also to have the custody of the four minor children, aged, respectively, 19, 14, 12, and xo years, and $200 a month beginning with the 15th day of December, 1922, payable monthly for seven years, and thereafter $150 a month, payable monthly for five additional years. In all, '$21,500 cash payments. In consideration of this division of property, each party released all claim to the property of the other. Defendant agreed to care for and educate the children out of the money thus provided, and the)r jointly agreed to continue to live separate and apart permanently, that neither should have the right to' bind the other on any contract, or be liable for goods • furnished to the other, and respondent agreed that the money payments which he agreed to make should in case of his death be a first claim against all his estate. It was further agreed in their stipulation as follows:

“This stipulation is hereby made and entered into as a compromise and full settlement of the above-entitled action, and judgment and decree may be entered herein in accordance herewith. The defendant hereby dismisses her order to- show cause on the merits except that the court shall fix the amount of attorney fees of defendant’s attorney, H. G. Giddings, and order plaintiff to pay the same. The restraining order heretofore granted shall be made permanent subject to the waiver thereof by plaintiff at any time and plaintiff shall pay all costs of this action, including defendant’s filing fees.”

This stipulation was signed and acknowledged hv the parties and all papers and affidavits were obtained from the circuit court of Douglas county, whére this action was brought, and were taken by the attorneys of the respective parties to Yankton on the return day of the show cause order, andi duly presented to the court at its chambers at Yankton. After appearance and full hearing by both parties, at which hearing the affidavits, pleadings, and stipitlation were all before the court, and the parties present by their attorneys, this stipulation was approved by the trial court.

Payment of the first monthly installment was made, all the personal property and deeds to the land delivered to and received and retained by appellant. Thereafter appellant’s attorney withdrew his answer andi the affidavits on her behalf, and judgment was entered in accordance with the terms of said stipulation.

On the 30th day of December, 1922, defendant, having procured other attorneys, moved the court to vacate and set aside said judgment. The motion to vacate was denied by the court, ami defendant appealed.

Appellant assigns but two errors:

(1) Error in entering the judgment.

(2) Error in making and entering the order refusing to vacate the judgment.

Under the first assignment appellant contends:

(a) That the prayer to the complaint asks only for separation and general relief, and, there being no statute permitting the h'usband to bring such an action in this state, therefore no such action exists.

(b) That the relief demanded in the complaint meant only the relief asked for in the prayer.

(c) The court, having no power to grant judgment for that in fact prayed for, had no jurisdiction whatever.

Other points raised will be discussed later in this opinion. As applied to the facts in this case, we think defendant is in error in these contentions.

The complaint clearly contained allegations of cruelty, which if proved would entitle him to a divorce.

The answer put in issue these allegations, also the custody of the minor children and the value and division of the property.

Both parties asked for equitable relief on the affidavits and pleadings presented. “The sufficiency of. a complaint does not depend upon its demand for relief. In actions where answers have been served, the court may grant the plaintiff any relief consistent with the case made by the complaint and embraced within the issue.’ ” Woodford v. Kelley, 18 S. D. 620, 101 N. W. 1070; R. C. 1919, § 2564.

Under these facts we think it is clear that the court acquired full jurisdiction of both parties to this suit, at least from the time she voluntarily appeared and answered. R. C. 1919, § 2343. It is conceded by appellant’s counsel that she might have brought the action for a decree of separation. We think that such relief is consistent with the case made by the complaint, and is embraced within the issues presented.

Quite a while before the stipulation was entered into the parties had actually separated, and were living apart, the pleadings, stipulation, and affidavits before the court fully justified the court in believing that such separation should be made permanent. When therefore the stipulation was filed consenting to such a decree of separation, andi the evidence before the court justified its approval, the defendant was not prejudiced by the court confirming the stipulation, and no other finding was needed on that point. Brown v. Brown, 12 S. D. 506, 81 N. W. 883. After the approval and adoption of the stipulation no material fact was left in dispute, and defendant was not prejudiced by the judgment entereck Brown v. Brown, supra.

Litigants cannot deprive the court of jurisdiction to approve stipulations they themselves have made, or to enter judgments they have requested thereon, merely by withdrawing answers and affidavits after they have authorized and induced the courts to act on the faith of what they have done. Nor can they induce courts to act in one breath, receive benefits by the action, and then be heard to. deny the power they have invoked. Courts do not sit to be trifled with in that manner.

The stipulation clearly consented to the trial of the action before the court, and to. the entry of judgment by the court. There was no fraud, duress, or mistake shown, and a careful consideration of each of the other assignments o-f error makes it clear that they are without merit.

The judgment and order of the lower court is affirmed.