Hyman v. London Assurance Corp. ( 1899 )

HARDIN, P. J.

This action was originally brought in Erie county, and subsequently the place of trial was changed to Orleans county. The issues of fact were noticed for trial at a term to be held in that county, and the cause was regularly placed upon the calendar, and a note of issue was filed, and the same was entered upon the day calendar. A few days before the 7th of February, 1899, the respective attorneys conferred in respect to the time for the trial of the issues of fact, and arranged that, in the event that the justice who was assigned to hold the term" would consent to hear it on the 7th of February, the same should be set down for trial on that day. Pursuant to their agreement, after inquiry of the justice, who assented to that day for the trial of the issues, the same was placed regularly upon the day calendar, and both parties consented to prepare for trial on that day. On the 6th of February, one of the attorneys for the defendant went to the village of Medina, and held a conversation with Mr. Filkins, who was employed as counsel; and on examining the case, and after making preparation for its trial, the next day they, at 8 o’clock in the morning, left the Tillage .of Medina, and went to the village of Albion, where the trial was to take place; and when court was opened, on the morning of the 7th, at 9:30, the defendant’s counsel appeared in court, and announced themselves ready to try the cause. Thereupon the judge consented to hold the case open for an hour or so, to enable Judge Signor, who had been asked by plaintiff’s counsel to appear for them at the trial and to try the case, to communicate with the attorneys for the plaintiff, in the city of Buffalo, through the medium of a telephone. Judge Signor communicated with the office of the attorneys- in Buffalo, and was unable to find present in the office either of the attorneys for the plaintiff. He returned to the court, and informed the trial justice of the fact that neither of the attorneys were in the office at the time his telephonic communication was had with the office. The trial judge consented that the case be further held until 11 o’clock, or a few minutes thereafter, when Judge Signor again appeared, and ■declined to enter upon the trial of the cause himself, and informed the court that neither of the attorneys were in attendance, or would Ibe in attendance, at the trial. Thereupon the court, at the instance of the defendant’s counsel, ordered a dismissal of the complaint, with costs.

It appeared by the affidavits produced that one of the attorneys ■for the plaintiff, after the cause was set down for trial on the 7th, left the city of Buffalo for the city of Utica to attend to a professional ■engagement in that city, knowing that this cause had been set down for trial on the 7th. It also appears by the affidavits that the other attorney, after having assented to the cause being set down for trial on the 7th, was informed that another cause was likely to be reached in which he was counsel at a trial term then being held in the city of Buffalo, and that he deliberately elected to give his time, attention, and services to the cause pending in the Erie trial term, and to omit to attend the Albion trial term.

Upon all the facts and circumstances disclosed, it must be assumed that the default taken by the defendant was regular, and that the plaintiff, who appeared at the trial in Albion with Judge Signor, who had been asked to act as counsel, omitted to enter upon the trial of the case, in the absence of the attorneys of record of the plaintiff. Under all the circumstances disclosed in the affidavits, the leading ones of which have been alluded to, it is apparent that the default was in every respect regular, and without any bad faith or improper practices on the part of the defendant. The special term to which the application was made to open the default was called upon to exercise its discretion as to whether the default should be opened, and, if so, upon what terms the same should be allowed to be opened. The special term, in the exercise of its discretion, determined to open the default on condition that the plaintiff pay the costs which had been taxed and entered in the judgment dismissing the complaint before the motion to open the default was made. The discretion was not unreasonably exercised, and as the plaintiff is asking a favor, there being no indication of any bad faith on the part of the defendant, the discretion so exercised by the special term must be sustained.

Order affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements. All concur.