Capps v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, 182 N.C. 758 (1921)

Sept. 14, 1921 · Supreme Court of North Carolina
182 N.C. 758

E. R. CAPPS, Administrator, v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.

(Filed 14 September, 1921.)

Appeal .and Error — Motion to Dismiss.

An appeal does not lie from the refusal of a motion to dismiss an action.

Appeal by defendant from Calvert, J., at May Term, 1921, of WilsoN.

C. P. Dickmson for plaintiff.

F. 8. Spruill and Carl S. Davis for defendants.

Pee CubiaM.

Tbe judgment appealed from is as follows: “Tbe motion to. dismiss, made by tbe defendant in bis answer, is hereby overruled; and tbe other matters and things set up in tbe pleadings are hereby continued for further consideration by tbe court.”

Tbe uniform decisions of this Court have always been that “no appeal lies from a refusal to dismiss.” McBryde v. Patterson, 78 N. C., 412, down to date, see cases cited under C. S., 638, at p. 278 of vol. 1. If it were otherwise, tbe defendant in every case could always get from 6 to 12 months delay by simply moving to dismiss and appealing from a refusal to do so.

It is useless to cite cases, for they are very numerous and without any exception. As this Court has said (as to another point) : “There are some matters, at least, which should be deemed settled, and this is one of them.” Burrell v. Hughes, 120 N. C., 279.

Appeal dismissed.