Curtin v. Dunne

This is an appeal from an order setting aside a default judgment. It appears without conflict that the action was commenced by plaintiff in propria persona. The defendant in due time appeared by her attorney, and filed a demurrer to the complaint. Thereafter the plaintiff employed one Boyer as his attorney, who appeared in court on the argument of the demurrer, but no notice was given to the defendant of such employment, other than the appearance of Boyer on the argument of the demurrer, and the service of notice by Boyer of the order overruling the demurrer. No substitution was made of Boyer as attorney of record in the place of the plaintiff, who had acted as his own attorney in bringing the action. The demurrer was overruled, and the defendant was given time in which to answer. Before the time given for answering had expired, defendant's attorney prepared a written stipulation, of which the following is a copy:

"It is hereby stipulated and agreed that the defendant Mary E. Dunne may have ten days from the date hereof within which to answer the complaint of plaintiff, or take such proceedings as he may be advised in said action. This stipulation need not be filed. Dated May 29, 1908. (Signed) D. A. Curtin, Attorney for plaintiff, by H. J. Poswa."

Before the time named in the stipulation had expired the attorney for the plaintiff went to the county clerk's office, and had the default of defendant entered, and also a judgment upon such default.

It is claimed by the plaintiff that Poswa had no authority to enter into the stipulation, and that it was made without the authority or consent of plaintiff, and that for this reason it was not binding upon him. The affidavit on the motion to open the default filed on behalf of defendant states that the stipulation was obtained from the plaintiff. The affidavit of plaintiff's attorney states that the stipulation was given by Poswa, who was a clerk in the employ of plaintiff, but that it was given without the authority or consent of either plaintiff or his attorney. It is a significant fact that there is not a word, by affidavit or otherwise, from the plaintiff or from Poswa in denial of the alleged authority to give the stipulation. We must therefore presume in favor of the implied finding of the court to the effect that the stipulation was authorized by plaintiff. If plaintiff was present when it was given or if it was so authorized by plaintiff and the defendant acted upon it, we will not, under the circumstances of this case, pause to consider as to whether or not, as a purely legal proposition, Poswa had authority to bind plaintiff by the stipulation. It would have to be made clearly to appear that the court abused its discretion before we would be justified in annulling an order by the very terms of which a defendant is allowed to appear and answer upon the merits. If the plaintiff has a just cause, and the defense is without merit, he will not be injured. On the other hand, if the defendant has a meritorious defense, she ought not to be deprived of such defense except in a clear case of laches or other default on her part.

There is no merit in the contention that the notice was to set aside the default, and the order as made was to set aside the judgment. The default was the foundation of the judgment, and if the default is set aside the judgment falls with it. Not only this, but it does not appear that any objection was made to the form of the notice when the motion came on for hearing in the court below. The whole matter was before the court, and it granted the relief which appeared to be just and in furtherance of a hearing of the case upon the merits.

The order is affirmed.

Kerrigan, J., and Hall, J., concurred.