England v. . Garner

MeeeimoN, J. It is well settled upon principle and authority, that where it appears by the record that the court had jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter of an action, the' judgment therein is valid, however irregular it may be, until it shall be reversed by competent authority; and although it be reversed, a purchaser of the real estate or other property at a sale made under and iu pursuance of such judgment while it was in force, and which it authorized, will be protected. All that the purchaser in such case is required to know, is, that the court had jurisdiction, and made the judgment upon the faith of which he purchased, and that such judgment authorized the sale. If this were not so, courts of justice would be worse than mockeries — their judgments and decrees would be snares and pitfalls for honest people — respect for and confidence in them would justly to a great extent be destroyed, and the effect upon society would be ruinous in a high degree. No one, whether he purchased immediately or mediately at such a sale, could be sure that he had purchased anything, much less a good title to the property sold, as against parties to the record. It is a rule of law founded in sound policy as well as justice, that persons who purchase at judicial sales' in good faith, shall *200 be protected against the errors and irregularities of the court, and the laches of parties which they cannot see, and about which they have no opportunity to inform themselves. Jennings v. Stafford, 1 Ired., 404; Williams v. Harrington, 11 Ired., 616 ; University v. Lassiter, S3 N. C., 38; Ivey v. McKinnon, 84 N, C., 651; Sutton v. Schonwald, 86 N. C., 198; Gilbert v. James, Ib., 244; Morris v. Gentry, 89 N. C., 248; Gray v. Brignardello, 1 Wall., 627 ; Freeman on Judgments, §§509, 510. According to the allegations in the complaint, the defendants, or those under whom they claim, purchased the land in controversy, at a judicial sale, under an apparently regular decree of the court of eeputy of Moore county authorizing it, granted in-a suit wherein it appears by the record that the court had jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter, and the parties to that suit are the present plaintiffs, or parties under whom they claim. It thus appears that the defendants, in respect to the purchase of the land mentioned in the complaint, are within the rule of law above stated, and they are therefore entitled to the protection of the court. It is urged with much earnestness by the counsel for the plaintiffs, that the plaintiffs did not in fact personally appear in the court of equity in the suit mentioned, nor did they authorize counsel to bring the suit in their names, or represent them in that or any suit. The record, however, shows that they did institute the proceeding to sell (he land in the court of equity, and that they were represented by counsel, and the court took jurisdiction of them and the subject matter of the proceeding. The presumption is, that they brought the suit, that counsel appeared therein by their authority, that the court had actual knowledge of their appearance, took jurisdiction of them and the subject matter, and granted the decree of sale in the orderly course of procedure. There is no allegation that the defendants, or those under whom they claim, purchased with notice of any fraudulent prae- *201 tice in procuring tlie sale to be made, or irregularities in the record. It appeared to them, that the court had jurisdiction of the parties, the subject matter, and complete authority to make the decree. It must be taken that the counsel had authority to represent the parties in bringing and prosecuting the suit to its termination. An appearance by counsel, even without authority, is regular upon its face and is a good appearance in court. University v. Lassiter, supra; Rogers v. McKenzie, 81 N. C., 164; Weaver v. Jones, 82 N. C., 440. It is alleged in the complaint that one of the plaintiffs was an infant at the time the proceedings in equity were instituted. It seems, however, he came of age pending the proceedings of the court. Be that fact as it may, the court recognized and took jurisdiction of him in the proceeding as a party of age, and represented by counsel. If he were an infant, this fact did not render the judgment as to him absolutely void; it was irregular, and might, upon proper application, have been set aside, not, however, to the prejudice of bona fide purchasers without notice. White v. Albertson, 3 Dev., 241; Williams v. Harrington, supra; Marshall v. Fisher, 1 Jones, 111; Freeman on Judgments, §513. It was insisted that the plaintiffs were non-residents long before, at, and after the time the proceedings in equity were instituted, and this fact ought to serve as a protection to them. We cannot appreciate the force of this suggestion. The courts were open to non-residents as well as residents' — -both stood on the same footing, and there was no barrier to prevent the plaintiffs from coming to this state and at all times to care for their property and interests here. They certainly, according to their own showing, greatly neglected their property in this state, and there is a strange and unexplained delay in looking after the matters of which they complain. They may, however, have suffered, and this is to bo regretted, more particularly if it happened through irregular proceedings in court, but their misfortune cannot be ground for ovei’turning an important and well settled principle of law, and a great number of our own decisions. *202 It was contended on the argument that Doyle v. Brown, 72 N. C., 393, sustained the plaintiffs’ contention. We have examined that case and do not think that a proper interpretation of it is in conflict with what we have here said. We are of the opinion that, as against the defendants, the plaintiffs have not stated in their complaint facts constituting a cause of action. The judgment of the court below must therefore be affirmed. No error. Affirmed.