Connor v. Lyon

Opinion by W. D.

Pouter J.,

Judgment was entered by a justice of the peace against the defendant, who duly appealed therefrom and filed his appeal, with a properly certified transcript, in the court of common pleas of Sullivan county on May 23, 1898. On June 7, 1898, plaintiff entered a rule on the defendant to choose arbitrators, and arbitrators were subsequently chosen. On June 25, 1898, defendant entered a rule on the plaintiff to file a special narr. or itemized statement of plaintiff’s demand. On July 9, 1898, plaintiff filed a statement. On May 24, 1899, upon motion of plaintiff’s attorney, and without notice to the defendant, judgment was entered against the defendant for want of an appearance and affidavit of defense, and upon said judgment an execution was issued. The defendant appealed and the entry of the judgment, as aforesaid, is now assigned for error.

The Act of June 13, 1836, P. L. 568, secs. 33, 34, does not apply to appeals from judgments of justices of the peace; that act can only be invoked where the original writ in the case has been issued from and returned to the court in which the defendant is to appear, and the plaintiff must have filed a declaration before the return day of the orignal writ: Dennison v. Leech, 9 Pa. 164; Black v. Johns, 68 Pa. 83; Kohler v. Luckenbaugh, 84 Pa. 258. Rule No. 14 of the court of common pleas of Sullivan county, upon which appellee relies, follows the language of this act of assembly, and explicitly refers to the act, and the judgment in the present case can find no shelter under the wing of that rule. Apart from these considerations, however, this defendant was in court. The entry of the appeal from the judgment of the justice was equivalent to an appearance in propria persona. When the appearance is in person, it is only necessary that some act should be done admitting that the party is regularly in court and bound to answer: Crosby v. Massey, 1 P. & W. 229; Weaver v. Stone, 2 Grant, 422; P. & L. Dig. of Decisions, 1145. The Act of March 20, 1810, 5 Smith’s Laws, 161, sec. 4, contains this provision: “ And the whole proceeding in case of appeal shall be certified to the prothonotary of the proper county, who shall enter the same in his docket; and the suit from thence shall take grade with and be subject to the same rules as other actions where the parties are considered to be in court.” This judgment cannot be sustained upon the ground that the appearance of an attorney for the defendant .had not been formally entered of record.

It remains to be considered whether the judgment can be sustained upon the ground that the defendant was in default in not having filed an affidavit of defense. It is not necessary in this case to decide whether those sections of the Act of May 25, 1887, P. L. 271, which regulate the entry of judgment for want -of a sufficient affidavit of defense, apply to appeals from judgments of justices of the peace; for the record shows, and it is here admitted, that no statement was served upon the defend.ant and that the plaintiff gave him no notice that the statement .had been filed. Rule No. 9 of the court of common pleas of Sullivan county is as follows: “ In all cases arising ex contractu, brought into court on appeal from a justice of th’e peace, the plaintiff may, at any time, file a statement in the manner prescribed by the Act of May 25, 1887, P. L. 271, and thereupon may demand an affidavit of defense and take judgment by default, either in open court or before the prothonotary, unless affidavit be filed within fifteen days after written notice of such demand shall have been served on the defendant, his agent or attorney.” This rule practically adopts the language of the statute and is so clearly drawn that it can lead to no mistake. Under the statute, as well as under the rule of court, the defendant must have written notice that the statement has been filed and that he is required to file an affidavit of defense; and if, at any time within those fifteen days, he files an affidavit of defense, he is not in default. The record should show that such notice was given, or it will not sustain a judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense. The entry of such judgments, whether under the statute or under a rule of court, facilitates business, and it is, therefore, to be commended; but it is a special power to enter a summary judgment against a defendant, and is in derogation of his right to a trial by jury. In order to invoke the aid of such a statute or rule of court, the plaintiff must show that he has brought himself within its terms: Yates v. The Borough of Meadville, 56 Pa. 21; Wall v. Dovey, 60 Pa. 212. This judgment cannot be sustained on any grounds, and the assignments of error are sustained.

Judgment reversed and procedendo awarded.