Civil action to restrain foreclosure under power of sale in deed of trust, and for general relief.
In answer, the defendants plead res judicata, and by way of further plea ask for foreclosure in equity.
On the hearing, the court found that: (1) "The subject-matter of this action has previously been adjudicated in separate and distinct judgments . . . adversely to the plaintiff;" (2) granted the defendants' prayer for foreclosure in equity; (3) appointed commissioners to make sale; (4) required that they report sale to the court for confirmation; and (5) dismissed the action.
Plaintiff appeals and assigns as error "the action of the court in dismissing the action." The dissolution of the temporary restraining order is not challenged by the appeal; nor is the foreclosure in equity questioned; the only assignment of error relates to the dismissal of the action. *Page 354
There was no error in dismissing plaintiff's alleged cause of action upon the finding, which is unchallenged, that the matters therein sought to be litigated are res judicata. 14 R. C. L., 469.
There was error to the prejudice of the defendants in dismissing the action after granting their prayer for foreclosure in equity. To this end the cause should have been retained for further orders. Warlick v.Reynolds, 151 N.C. 606, 66 S.E. 657.
Modified and affirmed.