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In Arney v. Arney, 71 N.C. App. 218, 321 S.E.2d 472 (1984), disc. rev. denied, 313 N.C. 173, 326 S.E.2d 31 (1985), this Court considered the meaning of the words "last pleading directed to such issue" in Rule 38 (b). Plaintiff's complaint seeking an absolute divorce and custody and support of the parties' minor child was filed 2 December 1983. On 28 December 1983 defendant filed an answer and counterclaim, admitting the facts alleged as the basis for the absolute divorce and counterclaiming for custody and child support.
Summary of this case from Dick Parker Ford, Inc. v. BradshawOpinion
No. 8425DC432
Filed 6 November 1984
Rules of Civil Procedure 38 — jury trial waived by failure to make timely demand Defendant waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of absolute divorce where he demanded a jury trial on absolute divorce on 9 February and the last pleading directed to that issue was his answer, filed 28 December 1983. Plaintiffs reply, served on 6 February 1984 and filed on 9 February 1984, dealt only with defendant's counterclaim for child custody and support. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 38(b).
APPEAL by defendant from Tate, Judge. Judgment entered 9 February 1984 in District Court, CATAWBA County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 25 October 1984.
Rudisill and Brackett, P.A., by Keith Bridges, for plaintiff-appellee.
Randy D. Duncan for defendant-appellant.
The pertinent facts are not in dispute. Plaintiff filed her complaint on 2 December 1983 seeking an absolute divorce based on a year's separation, and seeking custody and support of the parties' minor child. On 28 December 1983 the defendant filed an "Answer and Counterclaim and Notice of Hearing" (hereinafter "answer") in which he admitted the facts alleged as the basis for the absolute divorce, realleged these same facts in his own request for an absolute divorce and counterclaimed for custody and child support. This pleading did not contain a demand for a jury trial.
Plaintiff served its "Reply and Prayer for Further Relief" (hereinafter "reply") on 6 February 1984, which was filed on 9 February 1984. This reply responded to allegations made in the answer concerning defendant's counterclaim for custody and child support; it also admitted the grounds for divorce which had been admitted and realleged by defendant in his answer.
On the day scheduled for hearing on plaintiff's action for absolute divorce, 9 February 1984, defendant filed and served a document demanding a jury trial on all issues. The trial court denied defendant's demand for jury trial and granted plaintiff an absolute divorce. Defendant appeals.
This case presents a single issue: Did the trial court err when it ruled that defendant had waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of absolute divorce? We find no error and therefore affirm.
Rule 38(b) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure provides in part that "[a]ny party may demand a trial by jury of any issue triable of right by a jury by serving upon the other parties a demand therefor in writing at any time after commencement of the action and not later than 10 days after the service of the last pleading directed to such issue." The defendant's answer was served on 28 December 1983; the plaintiffs reply was served on 6 February 1984 and filed on 9 February 1984. Defendant's demand for a jury trial was filed and served on 9 February 1984. If the last pleading directed to the issue of absolute divorce is plaintiffs reply, than the defendant's demand for jury trial was timely made; if the last pleading so directed is defendant's answer, then it was not.
Clearly, the defendant's answer is directed to the issue of absolute divorce, admitting as it does all allegations relevant to that issue. But is the plaintiffs reply also directed to this issue, thus rendering timely defendant's demand for a jury trial? We are compelled to conclude that it was not. Defendant's answer contains a counterclaim for custody and child support. The language in the section of that pleading denominated "counterclaim," seemingly directed toward the issue of absolute divorce, is extrinsic to the subject matter of the counterclaim and is, therefore, superfluous. As a legal matter, plaintiffs reply addresses only the issues of child custody and child support. Insofar as plaintiffs reply admitted the grounds for absolute divorce, it was only repeating what had been alleged in the complaint and then admitted and realleged in defendant's answer.
There are cases construing the substantially similar federal rule holding that a demand for a jury trial made within ten days of a reply does not necessarily cover issues raised in the complaint and answer, i.e., is not timely made, unless the counterclaim involved arises out of the subject matter of the complaint and is, therefore, compulsory. See Tights, Inc. v. Stanley, 441 F.2d 336 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 92 S.Ct. 90, 404 U.S. 852, 30 L.Ed.2d 91 (1971); Consolidated Fisheries Co. v. Fairbanks Morse Co., 9 F.R.D. 539 (E.D.Pa. 1949). Custody and child support are manifestly not in the nature of compulsory counterclaims to an action for absolute divorce. See G.S. 50-19. Therefore, defendant's demand for a jury trial, not made within ten days of its 28 December 1983 pleading, was not timely. The denial of a belated demand for a jury trial is within the discretion of the judge. Schoolfield v. Collins, 281 N.C. 604, 189 S.E.2d 208 (1972). The judgment granting plaintiff an absolute divorce is without error.
Affirmed.
Judges BRASWELL and EAGLES concur.