Ferguson v. Hull

36 N.E. 254, 136 Ind. 339, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 151
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 30, 1894
DocketNo. 16,448
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 36 N.E. 254 (Ferguson v. Hull) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ferguson v. Hull, 36 N.E. 254, 136 Ind. 339, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 151 (Ind. 1894).

Opinion

Dailey, J.

This is an action on a complaint to review a j udgment, brought by the appellants against the appellees, in the Lawrence Circuit Court at its December term, 1890.

The complaint in this case, and in each paragraph thereof, charges, in substance, that a judgment was rendered in favor of the appellees, Hull and Boswell, on the 3d day of May, 1890, for the sum of $2,500, and that on the 20th day of said month an execution was caused to-be issued by said plaintiffs, against the defendants therein, and placed in the hands of the defendant Day, sheriff of said county.

[341]*341It is also averred that an appeal was prayed from the said Lawrence Circuit Court, to this court, and that twenty days from May 3d, 1890, were granted these appellants, who were plaintiffs below, within which to file their appeal bond.

It is also shown, that within said twenty days the execution was issued, and, before the expiration of said time, placed in the hands of the said sheriff; that by virtue of this execution the sheriff levied upon the property described in the return thereon.

It is further shown in each paragraph of the complaint, that said execution was issued upon the judgment against Marion Ferguson, William Ferguson, and Oliver Ferguson, and that the names of all the Fergusons were, originally and at the time of the issuing of the execution, upon the face of said execution and upon the face of the judgment; that subsequently, without the consent or knowledge of any of the defendants — appellants—and in vacation, court having adjourned to court in course, both the execution and the judgment record were altered and changed without 'the order of the court, so as to make said judgment and said execution to read as a judgment and execution against Marion and William Ferguson .alone.

To each paragraph of 'the complaint a demurrer was overruled as to the defendant Day, and sustained as to the defendants Hull and Boswell; Oliver Ferguson not being found, no further proceedings were taken against him.

The defendant Day subsequently filed his answer in two paragraphs, to each paragraph of the plaintiffs, complaint.

To the second paragraph of this answer plaintiffs filed their demurrer, which was overruled by the court, and to this ruling the plaintiffs at the time excepted.

[342]*342The appellants discuss, at great length, many questions involving the sufficiency of the sheriff's return; the sufficiency of the second paragraph of the defendant Day's answer to meet the averments of the complaint; the failure to aver a demand upon William Ferguson for individual property, or upon Marion and William Ferguson for joint property, or any search whatever'for the individual or joint property of either of said parties. They insist, that the judgment was originally a judgment against Marion, William, and Oliver Ferguson; that no right of amendment, no right to change or deface the record by adding parties defendant to the judgment in the record when once signed, or by obliterating the name of defendants therefrom, could exist outside of the power of the court; that only a nunc pro tunc entry on the order of the court could make the judgment one; against less than three of the Fergusons; that the judgment, when made, was conclusive and imported absolute verity; that the execution was improvidently and improperly issued against William, Marion, and Oliver Ferguson, upon a judgment against all three of them; that there was but one execution issued, and subsequent thereto the record was amended in vacation, and the execution already issued was then amended to correspond with the amended record, by erasing the name of Oliver Ferguson both from the record and the issued execution; that this power is inherent in the court and vested nowhere else, the clerk and sheriff are not clothed with judicial power, and can not legally disturb the record in vacation, nor can it be legally done by any ministerial or clerical officer; that sureties for appeal were suggested and approved, and twenty days were given appellants from May 3d, 1890, in which to file bond; that on the 20th day of May, 1890, seventeen days after such order of the court, this execution was issued; that where the court has made such an [343]*343order and granted a given length of time in which to file bond, and approved the sureties thereon, such order is an absolute stay of all proceedings, until the expiration of the time given, otherwise the order would be a useless and vain thing — hence appellants argu'e that the order, in effect, was an absolute supersedeas, and appellants had the right to rely on the fact that no execution would be issued within the limit; that the appellees were guilty of negligence with reference to these matters, and can not be permitted to take advantage of their own laches in failing to proceed in consonance with the law, and.the execution from its birth was a nullity.

Many other suggestions and criticisms are indulged in by the brilliant and learned counsel for the appellants, with reference to the failure of the sheriff to make proper demand and levy, and concerning the inadvertent spoliation of the record, much of which is elementary; but these are matters that can be in no wise raised on a complaint to review a judgment.

“The rendition of a judgment is a judicial act. Its entry upon the record is merely ministerial.” Freeman on Judgments, pages 55 and 56.

The presumption is always in favor of the correctness of a record, and when it is challenged the onus is cast upon the person who seeks its overthrow to show that it does not speak the truth. Necessarily, by the very nature and name of the action itself,, only the errors committed prior to, and in connection with, the judgment, can be reviewed in this kind of an action.

There are but two causes for review:’

1st. Error of law appearing in the proceedings and judgment.

2d. Material new matter discovered since the rendition of the judgment.

If there were anything irregular in the mode, or in [344]*344the time of the issuing of the execution, or in the levy to satisfy the sam&, or if for any cause the execution or the levy thereunder was void or voidable, appellants had their remedy. They could have enjoined the sale, but they can not have such matters reviewed in the action they here bring. That such matters can not be cause for, or considered in,'a suit to review a judgment, we think is well settled. We here cite Works’ Prac. and Pl. on the subject of review of judgments, sections 1049 to 1057, inclusive, and the authorities there cited.

In section 1049, the author says: “It is said, in the syllabus to one case, that a judgment may be reviewed on the ground that it was obtained- by fraud, but the case does not so decide, and clearly such is not the law. The new matter contemplated by the statute must mean some fact or facts going to make up the original cause of action or defense, and not some act of fraud by which the judgment was obtained. If the fraud goes to constitute the cause of action, it is a fact that may amount to new matter within the statute. But where the fraud is in obtaining the judgment, while it may be ground for setting it aside, it is not ground for review.” See, also, Nealis, Admr., v. Dicks, 72 Ind. 374.

In the case at bar, the only new matter relied upon is the fraud or irregularity, after judgment, of the clerk and sheriff, parties not known in the original action.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 N.E. 254, 136 Ind. 339, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferguson-v-hull-ind-1894.