Albert Hall, Inc. v. John Hancock

Opinion by

Linn, J.,

The assignments of error are 1 — to the entry of judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense, and 2, to the refusal to open the judgment so entered to permit defendant to argue the motion for judgment, the petition stating that the motion was argued in the absence of defendant’s attorney.

The suit is to recover $275 which defendant in writing agreed to pay to plaintiff “upon collection of rentals ......up to August 31, 1927, in the sum of $529 ......; ” the statement alleges that defendant collected those rentals, but refused to pay as agreed. The averment in the affidavit of defense is that a part of the sum “had been collected by the real owner of the property” and “that the balance was remitted by [defendant] to [plaintiff’s principal].” Those allegations have no apparent relation to the contract averred in the statement.

Defendant admits the execution of the contract, and his promise to pay to plaintiff “upon collection of rentals ”; if they were collected as defendant concedes, the condition has been fulfilled, payment is due, and plaintiff is entitled to the judgment.

No argument could change the effect of defendant’s averments; as no other defense is suggested, the court properly refused to open.

Judgment affirmed.