Bauer v. White , 1919 Ill. App. LEXIS 105 ( 1919 )

Mr. Justice McSurely

delivered the opinion of the court.

By this writ of error the defendant, Carl Murray White, seeks the reversal of a judgment against him and his codefendant, Leona H. White, for $250.

Plaintiff filed a declaration on the common counts, and by his affidavit of claim asserted a joint liability of the defendants for services rendered them at.their request. Both defendants appeared, and Carl Murray White filed a plea, verified by affidavit, denying joint liability. Leona H. White also filed a plea denying joint liability, and alleging that the supposed promises in the declaration mentioned were made by her alone; this was also supported by an affidavit. Both defendants joined in and filed a plea setting forth their defense, alleging that Leona H. White had agreed to pay the plaintiff, an attorney, for services what they were reasonably worth, and that a reasonable amount had been offered in payment which had been refused, although Leona H. White was still ready to pay the same and brought the same into court for that purpose; this plea was also supported by affidavit. Both defendants also filed a plea of nonassumpsit, which was sworn to. The next proceeding of record was an order finding that defendants were in default, and the cause proceeded to trial and plaintiff’s damages were .assessed and judgment entered upon the finding.

It has been held many times under similar circumstances that it is improper to enter the default of a defendant without first striking his pleas from the files. Barth v. Farmers & Traders Bank, 195 Ill. App. 318; Kearney v. County of Cook, 187 Ill. App. 435.

The sufficiency of the pleas should be tested in the trial court upon motion to strike.

We might suggest that pleas similar to these have been held to be equivalent to an affidavit of merits. Fergus v. Cleveland Paper Co., 3 Ill. App. 629; Kimbark v. Blundin, 6 Ill. App. 539. The reasoning of Mr. Justice McAllister in this latter case is very persuasive.

In any event, as was held in Chicago Stamping Co. v. Mechanical Rubber Co., 83 Ill. App. 230, the pleas filed may be amended or additional pleas filed, within the discretion of the court, upon motion made before default is entered.

For the reasons indicated the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.