{ "id": 8661335, "name": "GEORGE A. STOCKTON v. WOLVERINE GOLD MINING COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Stockton v. Wolverine Gold Mining Co.", "decision_date": "1907-05-14", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "595", "last_page": "600", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "144 N.C. 595" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "133 N. C., 432", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "64 N. C., 370", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "88 N. C., 200", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682922 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/88/0200-01" ] }, { "cite": "124 N. C., 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "122 N. C., 831", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "131 N. C., 213", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "132 N. C., 313", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "125 N. C., 185", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273313 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/125/0185-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 476, "char_count": 8864, "ocr_confidence": 0.452, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.752647663455878e-07, "percentile": 0.8328580160464953 }, "sha256": "8e77b838bc484d095ca69edfe97e9f9fdae5df5f1e017bc0ba9cb8360e3116a3", "simhash": "1:8d408b66132cb54b", "word_count": 1544 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:27:07.773177+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "BeowN, J., concurs in result." ], "parties": [ "GEORGE A. STOCKTON v. WOLVERINE GOLD MINING COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Clark, C. J.\nAppeal from an order setting aside a judgment by default and inquiry for excusable neglect, under Revisal, sec. 513 (Code, 274). Upon the facts found, wliicb finding is conclusive on us, the Judge decides whether, as a matter of law, there was or was not excusable neglect. Prom this conclusion of law an appeal lies. Norton v. McLaurin, 125 N. C., 185; Pepper v. Clegg, 132 N. C., 313.\nUnder The Code, 274, if the Judge correctly adjudged that' there was excusable neglect, then whether be should set aside the judgment rested in bis unreviewable discretion. Morris v. Insurance Co., 131 N. C., 213, and cases cited. In Re-visal, sec. 513, the word \u201cshall\u201d is substituted for \u201cmay in bis discretion,\u201d which was used in Code, 274. Whether this does not take away the discretion of the Judge, when be has correctly adjudged that there was excusable neglect upon the facts found, is not now before ns, as tbe Judge, having found there was excusable neglect, set aside the judgment, and the plaintiff\u2019s appeal, presents only the question whether the neglect was -excusable.\nIt is found by the Judge that summons issued 4 August, .1906, and that at August Term an alias issued, which was returned, duly served, at October Term, when, by consent, time was allowed to file complaint and answer. Complaint was filed in December. In the latter part of that month a bar meeting was held to set a Calendar for February Term. Plaintiff\u2019s counsel notified defendant\u2019s counsel that, the complaint was on file, and asked to set this case for trial, but, on the latter\u2019s objection that the answer was not in, plaintiff\u2019s, counsel requested that the answer should be filed as soon as possible, and defendant\u2019s counsel assured him that this would be done. A few days later plaintiff\u2019s counsel again called the matter to the attention of defendant\u2019s counsel and received the same assurance. The defendant was a mining company, operating in Rutherford County, in this State, but chartered in the District of Columbia, and with its principal office in Alpena, Michigan. The defendant\u2019s counsel in this State were not entrusted with the duty of filing the answer, and they sent a copy of the complaint to the defendant\u2019s general counsel in Alpena, in December, to prepare and forward answer. This was not done, and at February Term the plaintiff moved for and obtained judgment by default and inquiry, the complaint being unverified and the demand being for unliquidated damages. The defendant had two local counsel; one of them, being a member of the General Assembly, then in session, was present only three days of that term of Court, but the other was present the whole term, and, indeed, in Court when the judgment by default was asked for and rendered. It does not appear whether he asked the Judge then to extend time to file answer, under Revisal, sec. 512, but if he did, the Court thought the motion should be denied, as he gave judgment by default and inquiry.\nIt is clear that there was no neglect of any kind on the part of either of the counsel in this State. But there was the grossest neglect, either on the part of the defendant itself,, whether it was in North Carolina, District of Columbia, or. Michigan, or on the part of its general counsel in Alpena, Michigan, to whom it saw fit to entrust the filing of its answer, instead of to its capable and reliable counsel in this State. We had occasion to condemn this \u201cleisurely, kid-glove, and dilettante style of attending to legal proceedings at long range.\u201d Manning v. Railroad, 122 N. C., 831. \"We there repeated (p. 828), citing several previous authorities, that the party to an action must \u201cnot only pay proper attention to the cause himself, but he must employ counsel who ordinarily practice in the court where the case is pending, or who are entitled to practice in said court, and engage to go thither,\u201d and, ibid., on page 829, said: \u201cIf the defendant\u2019s 'system\u2019 of procuring counsel does not enable it to file its answers in the time required of other defendants, it must change its methods to conform to the requirements of the law instead of asking that the courts give it special privileges.\u201d\nThe defendant was operating a mine in Rutherford County. It had an agent there, who committed the act which is the subject of this action. It was served with summons. It employed counsel there fully competent to file the answer and to represent it in every respect before the Court. It was notified on 29 December that the apswer must be filed. It chose to entrust the duty of preparing the answer to counsel in Michigan, who are not authorized to practice in our courts. But, even then, though not entitled to any delay on account of its- remarkable method of doing legal business \u201cat long range,\u201d there was five or six weeks, after notice that an .answer was required, before judgment by default and inquiry was taken. Tbe copy of complaint was sent to Alpena in December, as tbe Judge finds, that tbe answer should be drawn and sent here. If tbe defendant had been entitled to more time to file answer than other defendants, it takes a letter only two days or less to go to Michigan. Tbe defendant bad about forty days to act in, and, besides, could have wired or written its counsel here to file answer even after tbe February Term bad begun. Such negligence is not excusable, but inexcusable. If tbe answer bad been filed, trial could have been bad at February Term. Tbe answer not being on file, tbe plaintiff was entitled to a judgment by default and inquiry (unless tbe Court bad then extended time to file answer, Revisal, sec. 512), that be might have a trial thereon at April Term, which bis Honor erred in not giving him.\nIt was also erroneous to set aside the judgment for excusable neglect, in that the Judge did not find that the defendant bad a meritorious defense. LeDuc v. Slocomb, 124 N. C., 351; Mauney v. Gidney, 88 N. C., 200. \u201cUnder the former system a court of law could not set aside its regular judgment at a subsequent term.\u201d Jarman v. Saunders, 64 N. C., 370. The remedy was by a bill in equity, which must show, among other things, at least a prima facie meritorious defense. This the Judge should still find, that the Court may not do a vain thing.\nTbe cause of action set out in tbe complaint is for sale of $2,250 of defendant\u2019s stock to plaintiff upon alleged fraudulent representations and an alleged \u201csalting\u201d of its dump with ores from another and better mine, which were shown as samples to plaintiff to induce him to buy tbe stock. Tbe judgment by default does not establish such allegations of the complaint, which must still be proven, but merely tbe fact that tbe plaintiff has a cause qf action. \u201cA judgment by default final admits the allegations of the complaint, but a judgment by default and inquiry admits only a cause of action and carries only nominal damages and costs,\u201d the burden of proving bis right to recover any further judgment being still upon the plaintiff. Osborn v. Leach, 133 N. C., 432, citing our own cases and 2 Black on Judgments, sec. 698. As the case goes back for trial, it may be as well'to call attention to this. The order setting aside tbe judgment is\nReversed.\nBeowN, J., concurs in result.", "type": "majority", "author": "Clark, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "B. 8. Saves for plaintiff.", "Gallert & Garson for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "GEORGE A. STOCKTON v. WOLVERINE GOLD MINING COMPANY.\n(Filed 14 May, 1907).\n1. Judgment \u2014 Default\u2014Set Aside \u2014 Appeal\u2014Excusable Neglect.\u2014 Under Revisal, see. 513, when the Judge below has found there was excusable neglect on the part of the defendant\u2019s counsel in not filing an answer within the prescribed time, and has set aside a judgment by default and inquiry, an appeal therefrom pre-sents only the question whether the neglect was excusable.\n2. Same \u2014 Grounds of Excuse \u2014 Foreign Counsel. \u2014 An order of the Court below, setting aside a judgment by default and inquiry, will be reversed on appeal by the Supreme Court when it appears that the delay in filing answer was occasioned by the \u201csystem\u201d of the defendant in employing foreign counsel to draft the answer, when such could have been left to local counsel in attendance upon the Court.\n3. Same \u2014 Findings Below \u2014 Meritorious Defense. \u2014 In setting aside a judgment by default and inquiry for excusable neglect, it is necessary that the Judge below should find that the defendant has prima facie a meritorious defense.\n\u2022 4. Same \u2014 Admits Cause of Action Only \u2014 Measure of Damages\u2014 Burden of Proof. \u2014 A judgment by default and inquiry admits only a cause of action and carries nominal damages and costs, leaving the burden of proof upon plaintiff to show further damages.\nMotioN in tbe cause to set aside a judgment by default and inquiry, beard by Gui\u00f3n, J., at February Term, 1907, of tbe Superior Court of' RutheRKobd County. Motion granted, and plaintiff appealed. Tbe facts sufficiently appear in tbe opinion.\nB. 8. Saves for plaintiff.\nGallert & Garson for defendant." }, "file_name": "0595-01", "first_page_order": 635, "last_page_order": 640 }