Halama v. Halama, 637 P.2d 1221 (Nev. 1981). · Go Syfert
Halama v. Halama, 637 P.2d 1221 (Nev. 1981). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
6 citation events (2 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Jones v. Jones (nev, 2016-02-26)
Top citers, strongest first. 2 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jones v. Jones
Nev. · 2016 · confidence medium
Halama v. Halama, 97 Nev. 628, 629 , 637 P.2d 1221, 1221 (1981); see also Grey v. Grey, 111 Nev. 388, 390 , 892 P.2d 595, 597 (1995) (noting that if a defendant in a domestic relations matter resided at the commencement of the action "as she alleged in her venue document, then she is entitled to a change of venue as a matter of right").
discussed Cited "see" Damus v. Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. (2×)
Nev. · 1992 · signal: see · confidence high
See Halama v. Halama, 97 Nev. 628 , 637 P.2d 1221 (1981) (NRS 13.040 does not permit exercise of discretion by district court).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
DONALD RICHARD HALAMA
v.
NANCY JOY HALAMA
No. 12797.
Nevada Supreme Court.
Dec 30, 1981.
637 P.2d 1221
Diehl, Recanzone & Evans, Fallon, for Appellant., Joseph L. Benson, Las Vegas, for Respondent.
Cited by 3 opinions  |  Published

OPINION

Per Curiam:

In this action for divorce, appellant’s motion for change of venue, based upon NRS 13.040,[1] was denied by order of the district court on the grounds: (1) that the court had discretion to deny the motion; (2) that the court had previously entered a[*629] temporary order in the case; and (3) that appellant had submitted to the jurisdiction of the court by filing an answer.

Appellant correctly contends that a motion for change of venue pursuant to NRS 13.040, based on the defendant’s residence, does not permit an exercise of discretion by the district court. Stocks v. Stocks, 64 Nev. 431, 183 P.2d 617 (1947); Williams v. Keller, 6 Nev. 141 (1870). Furthermore, the order “previously entered” by the district court was a temporary support order which was entered on the same day that appellant filed the motion for change of venue. Neither appellant nor his counsel appeared at the hearing on the support matter. We know of no authority for the district court’s reliance upon such an order as the basis for denial of a motion for change of venue.

Finally, the district court incorrectly relied on appellant having filed an answer in the matter. The record reveals that no answer had been filed by appellant. In any event, the filing of an answer does not interfere with a defendant’s right to demand a change of venue. Byers v. Graton, 82 Nev. 92, 411 P.2d 480 (1966).

Respondent’s brief seems to assert that the district court made a factual determination as to appellant’s residence. However, the court’s order makes no such determination.[2] Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s order denying the motion for change of venue, and we remand for a determination of appellant’s residence and for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

1

NRS' 13.040 provides, in part, that an action “shall be tried in the county in which the defendants, or any one of them, may reside at the commencement of the action. . . .”

2

The clerk’s minutes make only a vague reference to “some question as to where the defendant was at the time.”