Phelps v. Osgood

Downey, J. Osgood sued Kemper, Phelps, and Young on a promissory note. As to Young, the suit was dismissed. Kemper made default. Phelps answered. Demurrers were sustained to the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh paragraphs, and the second and sixth were stricken out on motion of the plaintiff No question is made as to the correctness of the rulings of the court on the demurrers or on the motion to strike out. The first paragraph of the answer of Phelps was a general denial, and the eighth was a denial of the execution of the note, sworn to by Phelps. With the issues thus made, the case was called for trial. Neither Phelps nor his counsel appeared. The default of Phelps was entered, and the cause was submitted to the court for trial. There was a finding and judgment for the plaintiff. This occurred on the 4th day of October, 1869. On the 8th day of October, 1869, during the same term of the court, the defendant Phelps moved the court to set aside the default and judgment, and for a new trial. This [152] motion was overruled, and an exception was taken; and this is the only question in the,case The motion was based on the affidavit of one of the attorneys of Phelps. He states that he is one of the attorneys of Phelps, naming his associate counsel; that private interest of his own required his absence and that of his associate counsel, unexpectedly, in Johnson county, on Monday and Tuesday of that week; that the fact that this case was set in the causes to be reached on one of those days, owing to the confusion occasioned by the accident at the fair grounds, had escaped his observation, and it became necessary for him to start so early on Monday morning that he had no opportunity to see and engage some member of the bar to look after his cases generally in his absence, and hence he left himself and his client wholly unrepresented in this case on-those two days. From an examination of the facts in the case, affiant believes that the defendant Phelps has a good defense to at least a part of the note sued on, if not the whole amount thereof; that it was not the fault of Phelps that the default was taken, but was his fault if any one’s, and was the result of circumstances he could not control. It is insisted by counsel for the appellee, that section 99, 2 G. & H. 118, leaves it in the discretion of the court whether it will relieve a party from a judgment taken against him “through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.” But the learned counsel seem to have overlooked the amendment of that section in the act of March 4th, 1867. The section as amended provides, that the court “shall relieve a party from a judgment taken against him through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.” 3 Stat. 373; Smith v. Noe, 30 Ind. 117. The court, however, must necessarily decide upon the question whether or not the judgment was taken against the party through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. If the court shall find that the judgment was so taken, it has no discretion to refuse the relief. The former decisions of this court on the question as to what is or is not such a mistake or such inad [153] vertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, as will entitle the party to relief, are applicable under the section as amended; and the only change in this respect is, that when a case is' found to be within the terms of the statute, the duty of the court is imperative, and not merely discretionary. Examining the affidavit, then, in the light of the former decisions of this court, it seems to us that it does not show a case within the statute. It will be seen that though the deponent states that he did not observe that the cause was for trial at that time, he does not state that that fact had escaped the knowledge or observation of his associate or that of their client. What it was that had occurred at the fair grounds, which created the confusion referred to, or in what manner the deponent was connected therewith, we do not judicially know, and are not informed in the affidavit. Little importance can be attached to that part of the affidavit which refers to the deponent’s having to start so early that he could not engage a substitute, since the fact that the case was for trial at that time had escaped his observation. An attorney is one who is put in the place or stead of another, to manage the cause for him. He is the agent of his client, and the want of care and the forgetfulness of the attorney must be imputed to the client. Spaulding v. Thompson, 12 Ind. 477. The private interests of attorneys are not ordinarily sufficient reason for their absence from court in which they have business requiring their attention. Repeated decisions of this court show that in an application of this kind the applicant must show that he has a good defense, in whole or in part, to the action. We think that the statement of the deponent that from the examination of the facts he believed Phelps had a defense to a part, if not to all, of the note, might well have been considered by the common pleas as unsatisfactory. We are not informed that the affidavit of the client could not have been produced instead of asking the court to take the conclusion of the attorney. The facts with reference to the defense were what [154] should have been shown to the court. Goldsberry v. Carter, 28 Ind. 59. F M. Finch and J. A. Finch, for appellant. L.- IBarbour and C. P. Jacobs, for appellee. We think the common pleas committed no error in refusing to set aside the default. Judgment affirmed, with two per cent, damages and costs.