This, is a petition to open judgment entered by plaintiff Sozio against defendant corporation on the following instrument:
“$3000.00 July 15, 1955
“One day after date, I promise to Pay to the order of A. Sozio Three thousand and no cents dollars, Without defalcation, value received, with interest. ■
“And further, -, do hereby authorize and empower any Attorney of any Court of Record of Penn
“Witness.
- /s/ Poquessing Corp. (seal)
- /s/ Ernest B. Hatch, Jr. (seal)
(President & Manager)”
It should be noted that the note is signed by Ernest B. Hatch, Jr., as president and manager of defendant corporation and that the proper corporate seal is lacking. The note was given to pay certain cash advances alleged to have been made by plaintiff to defendant corporation over a period of nine months. The petition and answer sur rule to show cause why the judgment should not be opened and defendant let into a defense raise a number of questions as to the validity of the judgment and the amount due thereunder if valid, but under the view we take of the case we need consider only whether Hatch was properly authorized to confess a judgment on behalf of defendant corporation.
The president of a corporation is not authorized merely by virtue of his office to confess judgment
We find no evidence either in the record or depositions which shows that Hatch was authorized or otherwise had the right, on his own initiative, to confess judgment on behalf of the corporation. We therefore conclude that the judgment should be opened and defendant allowed to defend on the merits'. At the trial of the cause the various other questions raised by the petition and answer and depositions can be resolved.
And now, to wit, July 11, 1958, it is ordered and decreed that:
1. The rule to shown cause why the within judg- ■ ment should not be opened and defendant let into a defense be and is hereby made absolute.
2. An issue be framed between plaintiff A. Sozio and defendant Poquessing Corporation to determine the amount, if any, due and owing upon the judgment note involved; such issue to be set up by plaintiff filing a complaint and defendant filing an answer and such other pleadings as may be authorized by Pa. R. C. P. 1001 et seq., to the end that the matter be tried and disposed of as though the actions had been originally commenced in assumpsit. If plaintiff fails to file his complaint within the time herein ordered, defendant may proceed under Pa. R. C. P. 1037 (a).
2 Fletcher Cyclopedia Corporations (Perm. Ed.), 769, §619.
Stokes v. New Jersey Pottery Co., 48 N. J. L. 237, cited with approval in Hamborsky v. Magyar Presbyterian Church, 78 Pa. Superior Ct. 519, 524, and followed in Raub v. Blairstown Creamery Assn., 56 N. J. L. 262, 28 Atl. 384. See also Hardiman v. Philadelphia Assn., 2 W. N. C. 440; Livezey v. Qualey, 14 Montg. 205; Dime Bank & Trust Co. v. John T. Porter Co., 37 Lack. Jur. 105.
