Farmer's Loan & Trust Co. v. Reid

The Vice-Chancellor : The alleged irregularity of amending the bill, with a replication standing to the answer of the executrix and executor, must be deemed to be waived by their then solicitor. It is competent to waive an irregularity by parol or by subsequent acquiescence. Here, the affidavit made by the solicitor for the complainant shows a consent and long acquiescence in the amendments without objection. This is tantamount to an express waiver. The children of James M. Halsey, who were brought in and made defendants by the amendment, are, therefore, regularly enough before the court and the guardian ad litem of the infants ought to put in an answer for them. Whether they are necessary parties or not is [416] at present immaterial. They or their guardian will, at all events, be entitled to costs for appearing and putting in an answer f°r them either out of the property or from the complainants. The motion for an order upon the guardian -ad litem must be granted. He has consented to the appointment and has appeared ; and must be made to act by putting in an answer. If the children have a defence, he is at liberty to set it up specially in an answer, instead of submitting their rights to the court through a general answer. With respect to the motion for a stay of the complainants’ proceedings or a dismissal of their bill—and which appears to be made in behalf of some of the adult defendants (the executrix and executor)—the most that the court can do is to permit these defendants to file a supplemental answer to the amended bill, setting up the fact of being sued by Reid and compelled, by judgment at law, or by proceedings before a surrogate, to pay the mortgage debt and all by collusion with the present complainants, if such be the case or however otherwise. It is difficult to understand from the papers before me how Reed could sue for and obtain payment of this identical mortgage debt; but if such be the fact, the defendant ought to have an opportunity of making this appear, either by a supplemental answer or by filing a cross bill and making Reed a party to it. In this way he could be compelled to apply that money to the satisfaction of the bond and mortgage. Order accordingly; and costs to abide the event of the suit.