15 Pa. Super. 535 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1900
Opinion by
The city of Philadelphia filed a lien for taxes for the years 1880, 1883 and 1884, on September 15,1885. The scire facias was not issued until February 27, 1890, more than five years after the first of January following the last year for which any of the taxes became due. The scire facias was served upon the present appellant and judgment was entered for want of an affidavit of defense, November 25, 1891. On December 9, 1898, a judgment of revival was entered on two returns of nihil habet. On October 25, 1899, a rule was entered to strike off the lien, which, on January 6, 1900, was discharged. On February 8, 1900, a scire facias was again issued to revive, and on May 2, 1900, a judgment was again entered on two returns of nihil habet. On June 27, 1900, an appeal was taken to this court from the order discharging the rule to strike off the lien.
This case is believed to be the first to stand alone upon the right to strike off the lien. The rule is uncoupled with any direct request to open the judgment. We are pointedly told that the judgment is not to be opened, but that the lien alone is to be stricken off. In this way the appellant doubtless
Our conclusion is, in the light of all of the authorities, that if the application to strike off the lien for the reason here alleged is made in due time, as in Philadelphia v. Heister, 142 Pa. 39, it must be granted, but if the defendant permits the lien to be proceeded in to judgment, he must exhibit grounds which warrant the striking off or the opening of the judgment, in order to strike off the lien which he has permitted to ripen into a judgment: Philadelphia v. Kates, 150 Pa. 30; Philadelphia v. Browning, 13 Pa. Superior Ct. 164. If, in violation of the appellant’s suggestion, we regard this case as a rule to open, no equity appears, from the facts above recited, to sustain the application.
The order of the court below is affirmed.