Edson v. LaLonde

Long, J. This cause was commenced by declaration in the circuit court for the county of Ohippewa. A rule to plead was entered, and the declaration, with notice of rule indorsed thereon, was personally served upon each •of the defendants within that county. The declaration contained a copy of the promissory note upon which the ■action was based. Neither of the defendants appeared or pleaded, and after the lapse of 20 days after service of declaration their default was duly entered.1 The default was thereafter made absolute, and on May 16, 1891, judgment was entered for the amount of the note and interest. Defendants thereafter attempted to settle a bill ■of exceptions in the case, which was refused. Defendants bring the case to this Court by writ of •error. Eight errors are assigned. They are all .too frivolous to be noticed, but we shall notice the fifth, upon which claim is made that,— ccNo affidavit of the non-appearance of the defendants, ■or either of them, having been made and filed in the •cause, the judgment rendered by the court below is irregular and void.” No affidavit of non-appearance was necessary before ■entry of default. The court would take judicial notice from the record that no appearance had been entered and no plea filed by the defendants. The case falls directly within the ruling of this Court in Leonard v. Woodward, 34 Mich. 514; Elliott v. Farwell, 44 Id. 186; Bogue v. Prentis, 47 Id. 124. [164] The case, apparently, was removed to this Court for the purpose of delay and vexation, for which the defendants must respond in damages. The judgment will be affirmed, and $25 in addition to the taxable costs will be allowed against the defendants for vexatious appeal. The other Justices concurred. Footnotes [1] The default was entered for want of a “plea, answer, or ■demurrer.”