State ex rel. St. Louis Public Service Co. v. McMullan (Mo.) 297 S.W.2d 431, 62 A.L.R.2d 1281 (Mo. 1957). Other cases holding that a motion to dismiss should not be sustained upon facts such as those before us are the following: Dunn v. Law Offices of Ramon R. Alvarez, 119 Ariz. 437, 581 P.2d 282 (App. 1978); Stillabower v. Foster, 222 N.E.2d 292 (Ind. App. 1966); Clay v. Smith, 208 Ga. 423, 67 S.E.2d 235 (1951); Lefkoff v. Sicro, 189 Ga. 554, 6 S.E.2d 687 (1939); Walker Fertilizer Co. v. Race, 123 Fla. 84, 166 So. 283 (1936); and Halstead v. Olsen, 5 Neb. 112, 97 N.W. 442 (1903). Significant is the fact that the lower court finalized the proceedings as much as could be done as to the parties legally and properly before it.
" (Our emphasis.) Equity looks to substance rather than form: State ex rel. McGonigle v. Madison Circuit Ct. (1963), 244 Ind. 403, 419, 193 N.E.2d 242; State v. Ahaus (1945), 223 Ind. 629, 63 N.E.2d 199, 204; Wabash Valley Coach Co. v. Turner (1943), 221 Ind. 52, 65-66, 46 N.E.2d 212; Stillabower v. Foster (1966), 140 Ind. App. 32, 37, 222 N.E.2d 292; Leeka v. Muncie Savings Loan Co. (1919), 71 Ind. App. 318, 325, 124 N.E. 762. To reverse this case for retrial would be an empty and futile gesture.