Seaton v. Cook

Hadley, J.

This action was brought in Jefferson county, to recover for the usoe of a scow, and for damages occasioned by the manner of using it. The defendant was personally served with a copy of the summons and complaint at his place of business in Jefferson county. Within twenty days after such service, he served and filed a motion for a change of venue from Jefferson county to King county, accompanied by an affidavit, called an “affidavit of merits,” which recited that the defendant was a resident of King county. No answer, demurrer or other pleading was filed at the time or within the twenty days. Some days after the expiration of the twenty days, the plaintiff moved for a default judgment, which was granted. Thereafter, the defendant moved for the vacation of the default judgment, stating, among other grounds, that the judgment was entered as the result of mistake and inadvertence, and affidavits in support of the motion stated that the defendant had, by oversight, failed to file a demurrer to the complaint when the motion for change of venue was filed. A demurrer was submitted and filed with the motion, and the court granted the motion to vacate the default judgment. The demurrer was noted for hearing, and the court struck it as frivolous. Answer was then filed, to which plaintiff replied, and the cause was then noted by plaintiff for trial. The defendant objected to the jurisdiction of the court, but was overruled, and the cause was again assigned for trial at a later date. No one appeared at the trial for the defendant, and judgment was given for the plaintiff. Thereafter the defendant moved for a new trial, on the ground of accident and surprise which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against, and whereby the defendant was prevented from appearing at the trial in person or by counsel. Affidavits were submitted with reference to an alleged misunderstanding about the assignment of the cause for trial. The motion for new trial was granted, and the judgment vacated, conditioned upon the payment by defendant to plaintiff of the sum of $35 costs within ten days. The defendant refused to comply with the terms of the order, and has appealed therefrom.

The first three assignments of error are, (1) that the court erred in striking the demurrer to the complaint; (2) in refusing to direct a change of venue; (3) in hearing the cause, or in making any order therein, after the motion for change of venue was filed, other than to set aside the order of default and judgment. Appellant says the above assignments present but one question, viz., whether the court, upon the facts presented by 'the motion for change of venue, could entertain any further jurisdiction than to order a change of venue. We have seen that appellant filed no answer or demurrer at the time he filed his motion for change of venue. The statute upon the subject is as follows:

“If the county in which the action is commenced is not the proper county for the trial thereof, the action may, notwithstanding, be tried therein, unless the defendant, at the time he appears and demurs or answers, files an affidavit of merits, and demands that the trial be had in the proper county.” Bal. Code, § 4856 (P. C. § 312).

Appellant contends that it was sufficient to file with the motion an affidavit of merits without the demurrer or answer, and that the court had no further jurisdiction thereafter except to grant the change of venue. Whether the affidavit of merits accompanied by a demurrer or answer was sufficient under the statute to wrest from the court all jurisdiction except to grant the change of venue, we need not now decide, for the reason that appellant afterwards invoked the jurisdiction of the court to permit him to file the demurrer, on the ground that it had been omitted by oversight at the time the motion for change of venue was filed. The jurisdiction of the court was also invoked to set aside the default judgment. This was all done under a general and not a special appearance, and appellant unconditionally thereby submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the court. If the action of the court theretofore taken was without jurisdiction, the general appearance and demand for affirmative relief waived the jurisdictional objection. Sayward v. Carlson, 1 Wash. 29, 23 Pac. 830; Teater v. King, 35 Wash. 138, 76 Pac. 688; Larsen v. Allan Line Steamship Co., 37 Wash. 555, 80 Pac. 181; Gaffner v. Johnson, 39 Wash. 437, 81 Pac. 859.

Again, after the second judgment was entered, appellant also moved to vacate that judgment without in any manner limiting his appearance. We think appellant has waived the jurisdictional objection, and has fully submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the court. “The right to have a cause tried in a particular county is one which a party may waive either expressly or by implication.” Hearne v. De Young, 111 Cal. 373, 43 Pac. 1108. Appellant assumes inconsistent positions. He first sought the aid of the court to reheve him from the default, and afterwards from the second judgment by way of a new trial. He cannot now be heard to challenge the very jurisdiction he has invoked.

“Even if the objection has been taken in time, the defendant may by his own acts deprive himself of the benefit thereof, it being sometimes stated that a party who invokes the jurisdiction of a court is not thereafter in a position to question the jurisdiction.” 12 Ency. Plead. & Prac. 185.

It is further urged that the court erred in not granting a new trial without the imposition of terms. The first default was vacated upon appellant’s application, and leave was granted to file a demurrer, relief which appellant sought on the ground of mistake and inadvertence. This relief was granted without the imposition of any terms in the way of payment of costs or otherwise. Relief from the second judgment was asked on the ground of accident and surprise which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against, and it was within the discretion of the trial court, under all the circumstances, to impose terms as a condition of granting relief from a second judgment in the action. We find that there was no abuse of discretion, and in such cases the action of the trial court will not be reversed unless there is manifest abuse of discretion. 14 Ency. Plead. & Prac. 724. The action of the court is sustained by' the rule followed in O‘Toole v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 39 Wash. 688, 82 Pac. 175.

The judgment is therefore affirmed.

Mount, C. J., Rudkin, Fullerton, and Crow, JJ., concur.

Dunbar and Root, JJ., took no part.