Friedman v. Collins

GIEGERICH, J. The attorneys for the respective parties herein signed a stipulation in which they agreed “that the facts in this action are as follows,” and thereafter followed a statement of the facts. This stipulation was not accompanied by an affidavit to the effect that the controversy was real, etc., as provided by section 241 of the Municipal Court act (Laws 1902, c. 580), and consequently the justice had no right to entertain or act upon it. Pollock v. Platt, 49 Misc. Rep. 635, 97 N. Y. Supp. 990; Lax v. Fourteenth Street Store, 49 Misc. Rep. 627, 97 N. Y. Supp. 396. This stipulation was filed, and upon the return day the plaintiff did not appear, and a judgment was entered against him. The judgment itself is not submitted upon this appeal, and it is not entirely clear from the affidavits forming the return, whether or not the defendant appeared upon the return day. It would seem, however, that neither party appeared, but the court rendered judgment in favor of the defendant upon the strength of the stipulation aforesaid. The plaintiff made a motion to open his default in failing to appear,, and the motion was granted, and from the order opening such default the defendant appeals. The court below having no jurisdiction to render a judgment tijpon the return day upon the merits, by reason of the defective stipulation, the only judgment which could have been rendered was one for a dismissal by reason of the failure of plaintiff to appear. The judgment in this case must therefore be deemed to be such an one, and the plaintiff has a right to have such default opened for proper cause. Droege v. Herz, 48 Misc. Rep. 346, 95 N. Y. Supp. 570. As this is an appeal from an order opening a default, and as such an order is not appealable (section 257, Municipal Court Act), the appeal must be dismissed. Appeal dismissed, with $10 costs. BRADY, J., concurs. GAVEGAN, J., concurs in result.