RONNIE J. CAUSEY and LARRY N. CAUSEY, dba Causey Construction, and R. N. CAUSEY CONSTRUCTION CO., Appellants, v. CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA VACATION TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH AND INSURANCE TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA PENSION TRUST, CARPENTERS JOINT APPRENTICE COMMITTEE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION and INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT FUND (Collectively the "Carpenters Joint Trust Funds"), Respondents
Causey v. Carpenters Southern Nevada Vacation Trust
RONNIE J. CAUSEY and LARRY N. CAUSEY, dba Causey Construction, and R. N. CAUSEY CONSTRUCTION CO., Appellants, v. CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA VACATION TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH AND INSURANCE TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA PENSION TRUST, CARPENTERS JOINT APPRENTICE COMMITTEE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION and INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT FUND (Collectively the “Carpenters Joint Trust Funds”), Respondents.
RONNIE J. CAUSEY and LARRY N. CAUSEY, dba Causey Construction, and R. N. CAUSEY CONSTRUCTION CO., Appellants, v. CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA VACATION TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH AND INSURANCE TRUST, CARPENTERS SOUTHERN NEVADA PENSION TRUST, CARPENTERS JOINT APPRENTICE COMMITTEE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION and INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT FUND (Collectively the “Carpenters Joint Trust Funds”), Respondents.
No. 10480
September 27, 1979
600 P.2d 244
John Peter Lee and James C. Mahan, of Las Vegas, for Appellants.
Lionel Sawyer & Collins, and Dan C. Bowen, of Las Vegas, for Respondents.
OPINION
Per Curiam:
The "Carpenters Joint Trust Funds," purportedly acting as plaintiffs, commenced this action to compel the defendant contractors to specifically perform an agreement to allow examination of their books and records to determine if they were paying all sums required to be paid to the trust funds. The contractors answered asserting that "Carpenters Joint Trust Funds" is not a legal entity and does not possess the capacity to sue, and asserting that the trustees of the named trusts were the real parties in interest. For some reason not clear from the record these contentions were never resolved and, eventually, summary judgment was entered for "Carpenters Joint Trust Funds." This appeal followed.
A judgment for a legally nonexistent entity is a nullity. J. C. Peacock, Inc. v. Hasko, 7 Cal.Rptr. 490 (Cal.App. 1960). A party to litigation is either a natural or an artificial person. "Trust Funds" is neither. It is the trustee, or trustees, rather than the trust itself that is entitled to bring suit. Carpenters & Mill. Health B.T.F. v. Domestic Insul. Co., 387 F.Supp. 144 (D.Colo. 1975). Consequently, the summary judgment must be set aside and the cause remanded for further proceedings. This contemplates an amended complaint in the names of the proper parties plaintiff having capacity to sue, and a new responsive pleading.
Reversed.