PICK KWIK FOOD STORES, INC., PETITIONER,
v.
STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, AND EUGENE P. CROOKSHANKS, D/B/A THE WOOD WORKS, RESPONDENTS
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Pick Kwik Food Stores sought a writ of prohibition to prevent the trial court from setting a case for trial after all parties had executed a stipulation for dismissal with prejudice. The court granted the petition, holding that a stipulation dismissing all parties with prejudice divests the trial court of jurisdiction to subsequently set the case for trial.
The trial court is without jurisdiction to set a case or any portion thereof for trial after the entire cause has been dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a stipulation signed by all parties.
[1] A stipulation of dismissal with prejudice signed by all parties and entered by the court terminates the entire cause of action, including any counterclaims.
[2] A trial court lacks jurisdiction to set a case for trial after it has been dismissed with prejudice.
Previewing 2 of 3 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“the stipulation mentions all of the parties and concludes by stating that 'no controversy further exists among them.' There is nothing in the stipulation which suggests that the dismissal was intended to be limited to the complaint.”
Establishes that the dismissal covered all claims and all parties, not just the original complaint
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePick Kwik sued Crookshanks and State Farm for negligent performance of a construction contract. Crookshanks filed a compulsory counterclaim for monies…
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PER CURIAM.
Petitioner, Pick Kwik Food Stores (Pick Kwik), sued respondents, Eugene P. Crook-shanks, d/b/a The Wood Works, (Crook-shanks) and State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, for negligent performance of a construction contract. Crookshanks filed a counterclaim against Pick Kwik for monies owed under the same contract, obviously a compulsory counterclaim. The respondents also filed a third party complaint against Truss-Me, Inc. and Insurance Company of North America.
Subsequently, the parties entered into the following agreement:
JOINT STIPULATION FOR DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
Plaintiff, PICK KWIK FOOD STORES, INC., and Defendants, STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, EUGENE P. CROOKSHANKS, d/b/a THE WOOD WORKS, and TRUSS-ME, INC. and INSURANCE OF NORTH AMERICA, stipulate and agree to dismiss the above cause, with prejudice, and represent that this cause has been amicably settled and that no controversy further exists among them.
The stipulation was signed by the attorneys for all parties. Based on the stipulation, the trial judge entered an order dismissing the cause with prejudice on February 8, 1982.
Notwithstanding the stipulation and order, on October 19,1982, respondents filed a motion-to set case for jury trial in the same case number. Subsequently, a notice of trial and order directing pretrial conference was entered. Pick Kwik objected and moved to strike on the basis of the prior stipulation and dismissal. The motion to strike was denied, and Pick Kwik brings this action which we have treated as a petition for writ of prohibition.
Respondents contend that because the dismissal did not mention the pending counterclaim, it was not a dismissal of the entire case. However, the stipulation mentions all of the parties and concludes by stating that “no controversy further exists among them.” There is nothing in the stipulation which suggests that the dismissal was intended to be limited to the complaint.
Since the entire cause has been dismissed with prejudice, the trial court is without jurisdiction to set it or any portion thereof for trial. Accordingly, the petition for writ of .prohibition is granted.
GRIMES, A.C.J., and DANAHY and CAMPBELL, JJ., concur.