{
  "id": 1678969,
  "name": "U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. v. Patsy Ann GLASS and Everett A. JONES, as Co-Administrators of The Estate of Arlie JONES, Deceased",
  "name_abbreviation": "U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Glass",
  "decision_date": "1977-02-07",
  "docket_number": "76-233",
  "first_page": "45",
  "last_page": "47",
  "citations": [
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      "cite": "245 S.W.2d 924"
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    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
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      "cite": "167 Ark. 448",
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    {
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      "category": "reporters:state",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:40:25.982646+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "We agree: Harris, C.J., and George Rose Smith and Byrd, JJ."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. v. Patsy Ann GLASS and Everett A. JONES, as Co-Administrators of The Estate of Arlie JONES, Deceased"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Frank Holt, Justice.\nAppellant is the workmen\u2019s compensation insurance carrier for Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company whose employee, Charles Lee Allen, was killed by a third party. Appellant paid benefits to the beneficiaries of the decedent. It then filed suit, pursuant to Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 81-1340 (b) (Repl. 1976), to recover the amount of those benefits from the estate of Arlie Jones, the person allegedly responsible for Allen\u2019s death. Appellees, co-administrators of Jones\u2019 estate, filed a demurrer which the trial court sustained on the basis that appellant lacked the legal capacity to sue. The court then dismissed appellant\u2019s complaint with prejudice. Appellant asserts that the trial court erred by holding that appellant, as the insurance carrier, could not maintain its subrogation claim without having first \u201cjoined\u201d the workmen\u2019s compensation beneficiaries.\nAlthough the workmen\u2019s compensation carrier and the beneficiary have separate rights to institute an action against a third party tortfeasor, there is only one cause of action and it cannot be split without the defendant\u2019s consent. \u00a7 81-1340 (b); Amos v. Stroud, 252 Ark. 1100, 482 S.W. 2d 592 (1972); and Winfrey & Carlile v. Nickles, Admr., 223 Ark. 894, 270 S.W. 2d 923 (1954). The rule against splitting a cause of action is for the benefit of the defendant to protect him from a multiplicity of suits. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Wood, 242 Ark. 879, 416 S.W. 2d 322 (1967). Here the appellee defendants objected to the splitting of the cause of action and, further, the complaint did not join the workmen\u2019s compensation beneficiaries, who are necessary parties. \u00a7 81-1340 (b), supra. Therefore, the court correctly sustained the demurrer.\nWe must agree, however, with appellant\u2019s contention that the court erred in refusing the appellant the opportunity to amend its complaint following its dismissal. In sustaining the demurrer and dismissing the complaint with prejudice, the court did not make any allowance for appellant to amend its complaint. Neither did the court\u2019s written order, some two weeks later, approved as to form by appellant, make any provision for the right of the appellant to amend its complaint. It is undisputed that during the hearing on the demurrer that appellant\u2019s counsel repeatedly indicated his desire to amend the compalint should the court sustain the demurrer. Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 27-1117 (Repl. 1962) provides that if the court sustains a demurrer \u201cthe plaintiff may amend **** as the court may order.\u201d Appellant had the right to amend subject to a reasonable time limitation. Temple Cotton Oil Co. v. Davis, 167 Ark. 448, 268 S.W. 38 (1925). See also Dickerson v. Hamby, 96 Ark. 163, 131 S.W. 674 (1910); and Bradley v. Mo. Pac. R.R. Co., 144 Ark. 604, 223 S.W. 35 (1920). Here we hold dismissal of the complaint without reserving the appellant\u2019s right to amend its complaint is contrary to the provisions of the cited statute.\nReversed and remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.\nWe agree: Harris, C.J., and George Rose Smith and Byrd, JJ.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Frank Holt, Justice."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Barber, McCaskill, Amsler & Jones, for appellant.",
      "Tompkins, McKenzie, McRae & Vasser, for appellees."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. v. Patsy Ann GLASS and Everett A. JONES, as Co-Administrators of The Estate of Arlie JONES, Deceased\n76-233\n245 S.W. 2d 924\nOpinion delivered February 7, 1977\n(Division I) .\nBarber, McCaskill, Amsler & Jones, for appellant.\nTompkins, McKenzie, McRae & Vasser, for appellees."
  },
  "file_name": "0045-01",
  "first_page_order": 75,
  "last_page_order": 77
}