McCabe v. Sumner

40 Wis. 386 | Wis. | 1876

Ryan, C. J.

Tbe motion in tbis case was founded upon irregularities in entering ‘up tbe judgment; and is therefore not an appeal to tbe discretion of tbe court, in which a verified answer disclosing merits should be served with tbe motion papers, as held in Levy v. Goldberg, presently decided [ante, p. 308]. It would indeed be more satisfactory, in cases like this? if tbe motion were founded upon a verified answer, and not on a mere affidavit of tbe defendant. But when tbe motion goes upon irregularity, we do not feel at liberty to require a verified answer as a condition of relief.

It is true that it has been held that tbe supervision of cciurts, on motion, over judgments entered upon warrants of attorney, is of an equitable character; and that tbe burden is on tbe defendant to show some wrong or injustice in tbe judgment. That rule appears to rest on tbe release of errors usually found in warrants of attorney. Van Steenwyck v. Sackett, 17 Wis., 645. Here there is no release of errors.

Aside, however, from release of errors, there are doubtless mere irregularities which should not have weight, under sec. 40, cb. 125, E. S., to disturb a judgment upon a warrant of attorney. But courts bave generally, and we thirtk rightly, looked closely into such judgments, to see that no substantial wrong has been done to tbe defendants, either in the judgments themselves or in tbe amounts for which they are entered up. And tbe equitable power which should not be invoked for immaterial irregularities, should surely be exercised against substantial injustice done by substantial irregularities.

When judgment is entered up upon warrant of attorney, there is special reason that the complaint should be verified. The statute, however, does not require a formal verification of the complaint; but, evidently as a substitute and equivalent for it, requires the plaintiff, or some one in his behalf, to annex to the complaint an affidavit stating the amount due. For it "would not only be dangerous to give judgment in such manner without some proof of the actual debt, and unjust to render judgment for the whole, where part only is due, but the warrant of attorney is authority to confess judgment for the amount due only. Dilley v. Van Wie, 6 Wis., 209. That case is stronger than it appears in'the report; for we find by the record that the warrant was to confess judgment for the sum appealing to loe due according to the tenor of the note; yet the court held the authority limited by the amount actually due. And the affidavit which the statute requires is not a mere form, but goes to substantial rights of the parties. When the plaintiff himself makes the affidavit, it would probably be sufficient merely to state the amount due in the terms of the statute; because he is presumed to know the precise sum due upon the contract which he holds. But when some one else on his behalf makes the affidavit, we are inclined to think that the affidavit should disclose why it is not made by the plaintiff; and we are quite clear that it should state the means of knowledge of the person making it, within the rule of Crane v. Wiley, 14 Wis., 658. It is true that the statute does not in terms require this, as in the verification of a complaint; but the reasoning of that case applies as forcibly to the affidavit annexed to the complaint in cases of confession; and the necessity of a strict rule is far greater. Without stating his means of knowledge, a person not a privy to the contract may well be presumed to found his affidavit upon the tenor and effect of the contract only; saying no more than the contract says as well or better, and giving no assurance to the court of the justice of the judgment, which the contract itself does not give. Such an affidavit, made by a stranger not disclosing Ms means of knowledge, bas little significance. A reasonable effect must be given to tbe provisions of a statute, according to its object, and a mere literal compliance will not always do. Tbe statute bore requires an affidavit of one knowing tbe fact.' And there is no presumption tbat a stranger knows tbe fact, unless be disclose bow be came to know it. A plaintiff taking judgment on a warrant of attorney, wbo cannot make tbe affidavit for bimself, cannot be allowed to cheat the statute by getting tbe affidavit of one knowing nothing of tbe matter, not disclosed by tbe contract itself.

"We are aware tbat tbe affidavit in Blaikie v. Griswold, 10 Wis., 293, is open to tbe same objection, overlooked by tbe court in tbat case; the court considering tbe affidavit to be substantially in conformity to tbe statute. But there objection was specially made to tbe affidavit’s not stating tbat it was made on behalf of tbe plaintiff’. Tbe attention of tbe court was called to tbat point only, and tbe substantial defect of tbe affidavit was overlooked. And so far as tbat case may be in conflict with this, it must be considered overruled.

Tbe record before us fully justifies our present view. Tbe attorney probably meant no more in bis affidavit than tbat tbe whole amount appeared to be due on the face of tbe paper itself. And tbe appellant’s'affidavit, in support of tbe motion, showed a payment of a large proportion of tbe amount before tbe attorney’s affidavit was made. Some criticism was made upon tbe manner in which tbe payment is stated in tbe appellant’s affidavit; btit there was no denial of it on tbe respondent’s part; and, for tbe purposes of tbe motion, it must be taken for true, like an uncontradicted statement upon information and belief.

Tbe judgment was therefore not only irregular, but was made to appear unjust and oppressive. And, as tbe motion appears to have been made in time, within tbe rule of Ætna Ins. Co. v. McCormick, 20 Wis., 265, it should have been granted. Dilley v. Van, Wie, supra; Second Ward Bank v. Upman, 14 Wis., 596; Jones v. Keyes, 16 id., 562.

By the Court. — Tbe order of tbe court below is reversed.