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Campbell v. Coldstream Fisheries, Inc.
Citations: 230 Ark. 284; 322 S.W.2d 79; 1959 Ark. LEXIS 616Docket: 5-1811
Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas; March 23, 1959; Arkansas; State Supreme Court
The case involves a dispute filed by plaintiff Campbell against defendants in a circuit court, which was subsequently transferred to a chancery court upon the defendants' motion. Campbell sought to have the case transferred back to circuit court, but that motion was denied. The chancery court ruled in favor of Campbell but awarded significantly less than the claimed amount of $8,759. On appeal, two issues were raised: the jurisdiction of the chancery court and the awarded amount. The appellees cross-appealed, arguing that Campbell should not have been awarded any sum. The appellate court focused solely on the jurisdictional question. The complaint asserted that Campbell was owed $18,875 in wages, of which $10,116 had been paid, leaving a balance of $8,759. However, the complaint did not present any elements that would confer equitable jurisdiction to the chancery court. The defendants claimed that a prior case filed in chancery court concerning the same subject matter did contain allegations justifying equity jurisdiction, but a voluntary nonsuit was taken in that case. In the subsequent circuit court complaint, no allegations establishing chancery jurisdiction were made, and the defendants' answer did not assert any grounds for equity jurisdiction. The court concluded that the current action was a simple suit for debt arising from a contract, which does not fall under the jurisdiction of a chancery court. Citing precedent, the court emphasized that a court must find specific allegations in the pleadings to assume equity jurisdiction. The prior nonsuit did not affect the current proceedings, as a nonsuit allows for a new action without prejudice. Consequently, the appellate court reversed the chancery court's decision and directed the case to be transferred back to circuit court.