Ames Co. v. Busick

47 N.E.2d 647, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 403, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 756
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 2, 1942
DocketNo. 3413
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 47 N.E.2d 647 (Ames Co. v. Busick) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ames Co. v. Busick, 47 N.E.2d 647, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 403, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 756 (Ohio Ct. App. 1942).

Opinion

OPINION

By GEIGER, PJ.

The action was begun in the Municipal Court of Columbus, based upon a cognovit note, dated November 23, 1940, calling for the payment to the plaintiff of $224.50, for which judgment was asked.

Lyman Beaurifield, an attorney ■of this county, waived the issue of service and confessed judgment in the amount claimed.

On April 21 a motion to vacate the judgment was filed by the defendants and on the same day the docket discloses the fact that the motion was sustained and an answer and cross-petition ordered filed.

There is no formal entry made by the Court sustaining this motion, and other orders of the court are devoid of formal entries, and we must rely solely upon the transcript of the docket and journal entries to ascertain what the court did and what, if anything, was done by counsel in the case.

Said motion is that the judgment be vacated and the defendant be given opportunity to answer. There is no statement of any ground for said motion.

On April 21, 1941, we find this brief docket entry in reference to the motion to vacate the judgment: “Motion to vacate sustained. Answer and cross-petition ordered filed and cause assigned for trial”.

On the same day the defendants filed their answer stating that the note described was given in consideration of a fur coat and for no other consideration, and that the plaintiff warranted said coat to be new, free from defects, and to [404]*404give satisfactory service for a period of three years. It is alleged that the coat is in fact partly made up of old used skins, is defective in that portions of said coat became shabby and worn-looking without excessive wear, in three months time, and has not given satisfactory service as warranted.

It is alleged that upon discovery of the breach of warranty the defendants offered to return said coat and are still ready and willing to do so.

The defendants also filed a cross-petition asserting the same facts as set up in their answer and prayed that the plaintiff’s petition be dismissed, the note ordered can-celled and returned and for judgment in the sum of $41.50, and costs.

For answer of plaintiff to the cross-petition it is stated that the plaintiff admits the purchase of the coat on the 23rd day of November, and that the coat was delivered on or about the 10th of December; that a credit was given of $41.74. Plaintiff further admits that the defendant offered to return said coat. All other allegations are denied.

On June 24, 1941, the transcript of the journal entries shows the following: “6-24-41, case called.

Witnesses sworn and testified. Trial had and concluded. Court finds for defendant for costs on plaintiff’s petition. Court further finds for defendant on his cross-petition.”

The evidence in the case is briefly to the effect that the defendants bought the coat with a certain warranty as to its condition and its lasting qualities. An expert furrier examined the coat in court and testified that the skins used were not, as a matter of fact, new skins, and that the coat did not meet the guaranty. The credit given on the new coat was a result of the settlement of a controversy in reference to a former coat bought by the defendants from plaintiff, which coat did not prove to be satisfactory.

Motion for new trial was filed and overruled and judgment entered “as per finding of June 24, 1941. Ex.” As in the original judgment there is no forma.1 entry, the matter appearing on the transcript of the journal entries as above recited. Notice of an appeal was given from the judgment dismissing the petition and awarding judgment by the Court on July 2nd. Said appeal was on questions of law.

The motion and entry thereon, on June 21, 1941, was the same (April) term as the entry of judgment of April 5, 1941.

There are eight errors assigned:

1. That the Court erred in vacating the cognovit judgment and in permitting the defendants to file an answer' and cross-petition.

2. In permitting defendants to introduce evidence upon their answer.

3. In permitting defendants to introduce evidence on their cross-petition.

4. In dismissing the petition of the paintiff-appellant.

5. In awarding defendants judgment.

6. In awarding judgment for costs on cross-petition.

7. The jugdment is contrary to the weight of the evidence.

8. Other errors.

The questions of law presented by the brief of counsel for plaintiff-appellant are summarized as:

(a) Whether the judgment maybe vacated during a term to permit the filing of an answer and cross-petition which state no defense, but only counterclaim;

(b) Whether the remedy of rescisión is open to a buyer who uses an article for a considerable period [405]*405after notice of election to rescind; and

(c) Whether the remedy of rescisión is a defense to an action for the purchase price named in the contract.

The discussion involves the consideration of certain sections of the statute and conditions relating thereto. In the chapter headed, “Other Relief After Judgment” we find §§11631, et seq. GC.

Sec. 11631 GC provides that the Common Pleas Court or Court of Appeals may vacate or modify its own judgment after the term at which it is made by granting a new trial within the time provided in §11580 GC.

This section provides when an order for a new trial may be made after the term. Subdivision 9 sets out as a ground for vacating a judgment upon warrant of attorney for sums due the plaintiff when the defendant was not summoned or otherwise legally notified at the time and place of taking such judgment. This is the appropriate subdivision upon which to base a motion to vacate a judgment on cognovit note, but as above stated the motion sets out no ground upon which it is based.

The other related sections are §11635 GC, providing for proceeding to vacate the judgment on the grounds mentioned in six divisions of §11631 GC, including nine above mentioned. It provides that proceedings shall be by petition setting forth the judgment, the grounds to vacate and the defense to the action. On such petition a summons shall issue.

Sec. 11636 GC, provides that the court may try and decide upon the grounds to vacate before trying or deciding upon the validity of the defense.

Sec. 11637 GC provides that a judgment shall not be vacated on motion or petition until it is adjudged that there is a valid defense to the action in which the judgment was rendered.

Sec. 11638 GC provides that the parties seeking to vacate the judgment may have an injunction.

These several sections have been commented upon in a number of cases, some of which we will cite and others of which we will discuss briefly.

Brundige v Biggs, 25 Oh St 652; Lee v Benedict, 82 Oh St 302.

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Related

McMillen v. Willard Garage, Inc.
237 N.E.2d 155 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
47 N.E.2d 647, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 403, 1942 Ohio App. LEXIS 756, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ames-co-v-busick-ohioctapp-1942.