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Dyerville Mfg. Co. v. Heller
36 P. 928
Cal.
1894
Check Treatment
Fitzgerald, J.

Aрpeal from an order modifying the judgment given for plaintiff in the above-entitled cause.

The action was for an injunction to restrain the defendants ‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‍from infringing its trademark and for damages.

The judgment, which was entered upоn a stipulation between the parties, was filed August 7, 1891, and entered April 26, 1892. Thе proceedings for the modification thereof were instituted Deсember 9, 1892, and the order granting the motion for that,purpose was thereafter made, on the ground that “ the decree awarded relief in еxcess of the stipulation and the prayer of the complaint, аnd had been inadvertently entered.”

The question to be determined on this appeal involves-the ‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‍power of the court to make the order.

Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides,, among оther things, that the court may, “ upon such terms as may be just, relieve a pаrty, or his legal representative, from a judgment, order, or other proceeding taken against him through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, provided, that application therefor be made within a reasonable time, but in no-case exceeding six months after such judgment, order, or proceeding was taken.”

The grounds upon which the application was made were ‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‍excusable neglеct and fraud practiced upon the *617court by plaintiff’s former counsel by procuring the judgment to be given in excess of the stipulation.

Tiie grounds upon which the modification was made by the court were that the judgment ‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‍exceeded the stipulation, and that it had been “inadvertently entеred.”

Under the provisions of the foregoing section it is clear that thе court had no jurisdiction to make the order appealed from, as the proceedings upon which it is based were not commenсed until nearly eight months after the judgment was entered.

But it is claimed that, as there was matter of record by which the amendment could be made, thе court had power to make it, notwithstanding the rule as to time laid down in thе section of the code referred to. This claim, in so far as it applies to clerical misprisions, is undoubtedly ‍‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌‍correct. But where the judgment is entered as rendered, but rendered in excess of the stipulation, as is claimed to be the case here, such judgment is erroneous, and thе error one of law committed at the trial, the remedy for which is either by motion for a new trial or by appeal. (Egan v. Egan, 90 Cal. 15.)

It is further claimed that, as thе judgment was procured by fraud practiced by plaintiff’s attorney upon the court, the provisions of section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure, above quoted, do not apply. This point was expressly deсided against respondents’ claim in the case of Wharton v. Harlan, 68 Cal. 422. In that case the court, in discussing this question, uses the following language: “The notice of motion was filed and served more than six months after the judgment was entered. As an аpplication under section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure it was too late. The application for summary relief by motion must, by the terms of that section, be made within the six months. The application must be made within six months, even though the mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusаble neglect has been caused or brought about by fraud practiсed by the party in whose favor the judgment or proceeding was takеn. After that period the question *618of ‘ mistake/ etc. (whatever the remеdy in equity), cannot be tried by affidavit.”

It therefore follows that the order appealed from should be reversed, as the court was without jurisdiction to make it.

So ordered.

De Haven, J., and McFarland, J., concurred.

Case Details

Case Name: Dyerville Mfg. Co. v. Heller
Court Name: California Supreme Court
Date Published: Jun 5, 1894
Citation: 36 P. 928
Docket Number: No. 15330
Court Abbreviation: Cal.
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