Opinion
No. 74-196
Opinion delivered December 2, 1974 [Rehearing denied January 13, 1975.]
1. PLEADING — DEMURRER — PLEADINGS DEMURRABLE. — A demurrer to a complaint which alleged a coroner had conducted an illegal inquest, was in a position to conduct further acts regarding a death without jurisdiction or authority, and that he be enjoined from such further activities was properly sustained where it was not alleged in what capacity plaintiff brought the action. 2. PLEADING — DEMURRER — ADMISSIONS BY DEMURRER. — A demurrer does not admit any facts that are not well pleaded. 3. CORONERS — POWERS DUTIES IN GENERAL. — In order for a coroner to be enjoined from further activities in connection with a death, facts must be alleged to show that the action is imminent, and that such acts would be so manifestly beyond the authority of the coroner as to constitute an abuse of power. 4. CORONERS — POWERS DUTIES — STATUTORY PROVISIONS. — An injunction to prohibit a coroner from performing an act of discretion could not be granted since the statute provides that if circumstances of a death be unknown, or if circumstances of a death indicate foul play, a coroner's jury shall be summoned. [Ark. Stat. Ann. 42-301 et seq (Repl. 1964).] 5. CORONERS — POWERS DUTIES — PRESUMPTION AS TO ACTS. — It is not the duty of the coroner to inquire of sudden deaths unless there is reasonable ground to believe that they are the result of violence or unnatural causes, and the authority is to be exercised within limits of sound discretion and when exercised the presumption is that the coroner has acted in good faith on sufficient cause.
Appeal from Miller Chancery Court, Royce Weisenberger, Chancellor; affirmed.
Tackett, Moore, Dowd Harrelson, for appellant.
No brief for appellee.
Appellant David J. Potter brought this action to enjoin the coroner, W. P. Citty. Potter alleged that the coroner, in connection with the death of Jimmie J. Potter, had conducted an illegal inquest; that the coroner was in a position to conduct further acts with regard to the death "without jurisdiction or authority to do so". Potter prayed that the coroner be enjoined from such further activities. The trial court sustained a demurrer to the complaint. Appellant here contends that the trial court has jurisdiction over the subject matter.
The demurrer must be Sustained because nowhere in the complaint, which is the only evidence before us, is it alleged in what capacity appellant brought this action. consequently, the trial court could not tell whether appellant was an interloper who happened to have the same name as the deceased.
Secondly, appellant alleges that the coroner "is in a position to perform further acts in regard to the death of Jimmie J. Potter" without jurisdiction or authority to so act. It is not alleged that the coroner is threatening such actions; nor do we know from the pleading the particulars of those acts. Facts must be alleged which show that action is imminent; and that such acts would be so manifestly beyond the authority of the coroner as to constitute an abuse of power. Moore v. Board of Directors, 98 Ark. 113, 135 S.W. 819 (1911). A demurrer does not admit any facts that are not well pleaded. Palmer v. Cline, 254 Ark. 393, 494 S.W.2d 112 (1073).
Finally, appellant was in error in seeking an injunction to prohibit the coroner from performing an act of discretion. The statute provides that if the circumstances of a death be unknown, or if the circumstances of a death indicate foul play, a coroner's jury shall be summoned. Ark. Stat. Ann. 42-301 (Repl. 1964) et seq. "It is not the duty of the coroner to inquire of sudden deaths, unless there is reasonable ground to believe that they are the result of violence or unnatural causes. The authority is to be exercised within the limits of a sound discretion, and when exercised, the presumption is that the coroner has acted in good faith on sufficient cause." Clark County v. Calloway, 52 Ark. 361, 12 S.W. 756 (1889).
Affirmed.