Stephens v. Bruce

114 So. 306 | Ala. | 1927

Lead Opinion

In cases of this character, it is well settled, under the decisions of this court, that to justify relief against the judgment rendered, complainant must not only show a want of notice or knowledge of the suit, but "he must go further, and show, both in averment and proof, that he had and has a defense good in law, and in what that defense consists." Dunklin v. Wilson, 64 Ala. 162; Fields v. Henderson, 161 Ala. 534,50 So. 56; McDonald v. Cawhorn, 152 Ala. 357, 44 So. 395; Robinson v. Reid, 50 Ala. 69; Prudential Casualty Co. v. Kerr, 202 Ala. 259,80 So. 97. The first essential, a want of notice to complainant of the suit, we conclude was sufficiently established by the proof.

As to the second essential, a meritorious defense to the suit, complainant's case rests upon the insistence of his father, who, it appears, was the principal on the note sued upon in the law court, that certain credits were not entered and allowed. The evidence for complainant as to these credits would not have justified a cancellation of the judgment, as they do not suffice for the extinguishment of the entire indebtedness, but only a decree granting such credits on the judgment. National Fertilizer Co. v. Hinson, 103 Ala. 532,15 So. 844. The chancellor rested the decree dismissing the bill upon his conclusion that the defense as to these credits had not been sufficiently established. The evidence upon this question is not voluminous, and has been read and considered by the court in consultation with much care. Since the passage of the act of 1915 (Acts 1915, p. 594), it has not been the policy of this court to enter into a detailed discussion of the evidence (Caples v. Young, 206 Ala. 282,89 So. 460), nor would it here serve any useful purpose. Suffice it to say that, upon due consideration, we find ourselves in accord with the conclusion of the court below that the essential element of meritorious defense has not been sufficiently established by the proof; but we are rather persuaded the defendant's insistence is correct to the effect that all proper credits were duly entered on the note, and which were properly recognized and allowed in the suit at law.

It results that the decree rendered will be here affirmed.

Affirmed.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and THOMAS, JJ., concur.

On Rehearing.

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Addendum

A careful consideration of the brief of counsel for appellant upon this application for a rehearing is persuasive that the original opinion is not sufficiently clear in respect to the actual holding of the court. Counsel reads the opinion to the effect that the essential element of a meritorious defense could not be established, unless the credits were sufficient to extinguish the entire indebtedness; but such was not the purpose of the writer. Indeed, the citation of National Fert. Co. v. Hinson, 103 Ala. 532, 15 So. 844, was intended as disclosing a right to relief, even though the credits did not suffice to extinguish the entire indebtedness.

Complainant in such event would be entitled to relief by way of such credits entered on the judgment. Such was the purpose of the writer in the following language used in the original opinion:

"The evidence for complainant as to these credits would not have justified a cancellation of the judgment, as they do not suffice for the extinguishment of the entire indebtedness, but only a decree granting such credits on the judgment. Nat. Fert. Co. v. Hinson, 103 Ala. 532, 15 So. 844."

This observation, so far as the actual decision of the case was concerned, may well have been omitted from the opinion, as the final result here rested in fact upon the finding that defendant's version on the question of credits was correct and to be followed.

Upon reconsideration we are not persuaded our original finding was incorrect, and the application for rehearing will be denied.

Application for rehearing overruled.

ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE, and THOMAS, JJ., concur.