Citizens Trust & Guaranty Co. v. Young

75 W. Va. 241 | W. Va. | 1914

POFEENBARGER, JUDGE :

This writ of error is to an order setting aside a judgment upon a default and writ of inquiry duly executed. The action was in assumpsit upon an account, and the inquiry of damages was executed and judgment rendered on the 7th day of Nov., 1912. Later in the same term, Nov. 15, 1912, the defendant appeared and moved to set aside the judgment for error apparent and other causes to be subsequently shown, and the court continued the motion, in view of the absence of the plaintiff. At the next term, held in February, 1913, surprise was relied upon as a further ground and affidavits were filed to sustain it. But the court based its action in the setting aside of the judgment', upon non-joinder of parties.

.The declaration charges only individual indebtedness of the intestate and his promise, in consideration thereof, to pay, while the bill of particulars sets forth an account for money paid, laid out and expended for the use and benefit of him and a third party. If the demand was joint and several, there was no variance. 2 Ohitty PI. 12th Ed. p. 115, n. and 163, n. But if it was joint, as the court regarded it, the administratrix could not, under common law principles, be sued at law on account thereof at all. 1 Chitty PI. 12th Ed. p. 50. As to whether it constituted a joint obligation while the parties were living, no inquiry is necessary, however, for the statute makes it several for remedial purposes. Code, ch. 99, see. 13, serial sec. 4372. It says the personal representative, in such a case, may be charged in the same manner as he might have been charged, if those bound jointly with the decedent had been bound severally as well as jointly. The ground upon which the court based its action obviously fails, and it remains only to inquire whether a case of surprise was made out.

A previous action for the same debt had been dismissed for delay in the filing of the declaration. Between the date of dismissal and the institution of this action, plaintiff’s attorney told defendant’s attorney there was no action pending against her, and he gave the information to her brothers who brought it to her attention. But it is contended the representation was made after this, the second action, was commenced. The two attorneys, the only witnesses as to the time of the conversation, differ as to nothing but the date thereof. Plaintiff’s attorney swears positively it was before this action was instituted. Defendant’s attorney gives no date and is very indefinite as to the time, saying the representation was ‘ ‘ some days prior to the November Term, 1912,” and supplements this with the further statement that his failure to appear for-his client was “owing in part to the fact that it was in the closing days of the last county campaign and that he was extremely busy and did not feel that he had time even to make inquiry at the Clerks Office.” Defendant’s three brothers all say her attorney informed them “during the November Term of Court” that the representation had recently been made to him. In contradiction of the return, the defendant swears only one summons was served on her and that some months before the day specified in the return as the date of service in this action.

If the somewhat uncertain evidence thus adduced could be regarded as sufficient to discharge the burden resting upon the defendant to show good cause for setting, aside the judgment, she failed to comply with conditions imposed by sec. 47 of chap. 125 of the Code, serial sec. 4801. No plea nor counter affidavit was filed at the term at which the judgment was entered and there was no suggestion of the existence of any defense on issues of fact. The office- judgment could not be set aside except by a plea to issue and a counter affidavit, and these do not alone avail, if the judgment has been actually entered up or the 'inquiry of damages made. Neither was filed until the succeeding term and the plaintiff did not in any manner waive its statutory- right. At the time of the motion, it was not actually in court in person or by attorney. Hence, manifestly it did not agree to the continuance and so impliedly relinquish its statutory right to finality of the judgment for. lack of a plea and affidavit filed before the end of the term.

It follows that the order entered on the 28th day of February, 1913, setting aside the judgment rendered on the 7th day of Nov. 1912, is erroneous and must be reversed, and costs in this court adjudged to the- plaintiff in error, all of which will be certified to the Circuit Court of Tyler County.

Reversed, and Judgment Reinstated.