Henderson v. . Moore

34 S.E. 446, 125 N.C. 383, 1899 N.C. LEXIS 224

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: December 5, 1899
• Status: Published

Opinion

Eaiecloth, C. J.

The defendant in 1896 obtained a judgment against N. 0. Anderson on appeal from the court of a Justice of the Peace. The plaintiff was one of the sureties on the appeal bond, who' now alleges that the judgment was for an amount in excess of his liability on said appeal bond, and seeks injunctive relief against an execution issued on the said judgment.

Every judgment of a court, having jurisdiction, is presumed to have been entered agreeably to law, and until reversed or vacated, is binding on all parties to the action. Idiots, lunatics, etc., are no exception to the rule. Brittain v. Mull, 99 N. C., 483, 492. If a judgment is erroneous, that is, contrary to law, the remedy is by an appeal. If it be irregular, that is, contrary to the course and practice of the court, the remedy is by a motion in the cause made within a .reasonable time. Foard v. Alexander, 64 N. C., 69; Neville v. Pope, 95 N. C., 346; Ward v. Lowndes, 96 N. C., 367. A court of equity does not act on the ground that a judgment at law is erroneous or irregular, when jurisdiction exists and no fraud is alleged, but it proceeds upon its own conscientious view of the merits of the matter presented.

The plaintiff in this case did not appeal to correct an error, if any was committed, nor move in the action in which judgment was entered to correct any irregularity, if there was any. He has simply misconceived his proper remedy.

Affirmed.