Hartman v. Williams

Jul 15, 1854
Reporters:
Before:
Heydeneeldt
Mr. J. Heydeneeldt

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Mr. Ch. J. Murray concurred.

The only question necessary ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‍to consider, is whether a judgment, final by default, can be rendered properly [256] upon an ^unliquidated demand. The practice is a new one, and appeared, at first, unfavorably. Upon ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‍an examination, however, of section 150 of the Practice Act, there remains no doubt as to its correctness, and when it is generally understood, we see no danger to be ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‍apprehended from it. The defendant being notified in the summons, of the amount for which the plaintiff will take judgment, is saved the necessity and expense, if he ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‍has no defense,. of appearing to the action, to protect himself against an improper recovery; while, on the other hand, the plaintiff avoids the delay and trouble of ‍‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌‍resorting to a writ of inquiry, for the purpose of having his damages assessed.

Judgment affirmed.