IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

No. 88,286

L. JOHN PURVIS,

Appellant,

v.

STEVE WILLIAMS, ROB MANES, AND ROB LADNER,

Appellees.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1. A motion for judgment on the pleadings requires the trial court to determine whether, upon the admitted facts, the plaintiff has stated a cause of action. If successful, the motion can dispose of the case without a trial because the pleadings frame the issues in such a way that the disposition of the case is a matter of law on the facts alleged or admitted, leaving no real triable issue. The motion operates as an admission by movant of all fact allegations in the opposing party's pleadings.

2. Interpretation of a statute is a question of law, subject to unlimited review, and the appellate court is not bound by the decision of the trial court. When the issue involves a federal statute, it is within the power of the appellate court to interpret it, absent any otherwise binding court ruling.

3. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C.