Monnett v. Flynn

32 Ohio Law. Abs. 292
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 12, 1940
DocketNo. 3211
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 32 Ohio Law. Abs. 292 (Monnett v. Flynn) 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
Monnett v. Flynn, 32 Ohio Law. Abs. 292 (Ohio Ct. App. 1940).

Opinions

OPINION

By GEIGER, J.

We have before us an appeal from the judgment and order of the Municipal Court of the City of Columbus in the consolidated cases Nos. 188,014 and 247,098, which consolidated cases are in this Court No. 3211.

There is some confusion arising from the method in which the docket and journal entries and the bill of exceptions have been prepared and presented.

The docket discloses that on December 1, 1932, a petition was filed in the Municipal Court by plaintiff against defendants in case No. 188,014. The petition is to the effect that defendants occupied a dwelling house belonging to the plaintiffs from the 5th day of February, 1931, to the 1st day of November, 1932; that Hugh Flynn, Jr., is a minor under the age of 21; that defendants were given repeated notices to vacate; that the use of the premises and accessories were reasonably worth $396.00 and were necessities.

Summons was issued to the bailiff for the defendants, which was returned showing that on the 1st of December, 1932, the bailiff served the writ on the within named Hugh Flynn, Sr., and Hugh Flynn, Jr., by mailing a true and certified copy thereof with all endorsements thereon for each of them at 882 Oak Street, Columbus, Ohio.

Upon application, Edward J. Greely was appointed guardian ad litem for Hugh Flynn, Jr. and filed the usual guardian ad litem answer.

Hugh Flynn, Sr., denied all the allegations of the petition.

On the third day of February, 1933, the docket discloses, “Case called. Plaintiff in court, defendant not appearing. Default judgment for plaintiff for $390.00 with interest and costs of suit.”

We do not find any other reference to the entry than the above notation, neither is there exhibited a formal journal entry.

At the time of this judgment,. Hugh Flynn, Jr., was a minor of about the age of 19 years, although we must judge of his then age from other matters than appear in the pleadings or evidence. The case seems to have been dormant from the date of the judgment entry until April 21, 1939, when a conditional order of reviver of judgment was signed and allowed, the same [293]*293being served on the former guardian by delivering of a copy and upon Hugh Flynn, Jr., and Hugh Flynn, Sr., by mailing a certified copy to each.

On May 9, 1939, the docket discloses this notation, “Judgment revived for plaintiff for $390.00 plus interest and costs.” There does not appear to be any formal entry to this effect noted as a journal entry nor do we find any formal entry other than above noted.

On October 23, 1939, an affidavit in «aid of execution was filed and notice issued showing service upon a debtor (of Hugh Flynn, Jr.

On September 16th, the garnishee, The Ohio State Journal Company, filed an answer admitting they were indebted to the defendant without stating in what amount.

Thereafter, under date of September 22, 1939, the garnishee was ordered to pay into court the money belonging to the defendant, not exceeding $24.75, “being the amount of judgment rendered and costs of suit.” We find no such judgment, the amount for which judgment was revived being $390.00. There is no showing that either this or any other amount was paid into court by the garnishee. On September 9, 1939, Hugh Flynn, Jr., moved the court to dismiss the proceedings in aid for the reason that the same was founded upon a void judgment taken against him by default at the time he was a minor, who had no actual knowledge of the proceeding; that his rights and his minority were not presented to the court for his protection as is required by law.

In support of this motion, he files an affidavit to the effect that the original action was one for rental of a dwelling house at which time and when the default judgment was rendered he was a minor; that without his knowledge or consent a guardian ad litem was appointed and that he now learns that the guardian filed an answer setting up his minority and asking for the protection of the court and that later he is informed that a default judgment was permitted to be taken against him and entered on the 3rd of February, 1933; that he is now of full age and in the employ of the Ohio State Journal Company and that the property sought to be attached is the personal earnings of this affiant and amounted to approximately $100.00 during the last thirty days; that he is not indebted to the plaintiff in any way.

There appears among the papers under the file number in Municipal Court, No. 247,098 what purports to be an answer of Hugh Flynn, Jr., setting up substantially the same matter herein noted in reference to the contents of an affidavit, wherein he prays that the petition be dismissed as to him and for other relief.

We are unable to tell from the filing whether this document is intended to be an answer in the original case or a petition in the new case seeking a modification of the judgment for the reason that he was a minor at the time the same was taken. Under that docket number there is an affidavit by Hugh Flynn, Sr., setting up certain matters, among them that in order that his son would not be humiliated and believing that he was not liable in any manner, he kept several papers from being handed to him and that Hugh Flynn, Jr., was never served with process as required' by law and was never obligated to the plaintiffs and that he is now the chief support of his father.

Under the same number, the plaintiffs in the first case filed an answer setting up in detail matters they claim supported the former judgment principally to the effect that while the defendant was a minor, the judgment was for necessities. In this alleged answer, defendant prays for judgment against the plaintiff, Hugh Flynn, Jr., in the sum of $390.00 and in a still further cross-petition and reply they pray for judgment in the same amount.

The original plaintiffs being defendants in case No. 247,098. demur to what is called a petition.

Just how these several papers can be considered by us, they not having been identified in any way, we are not advised.

On the 15th of January, 1940, there appears in the transcript the following notation, “Case called, witnesses [294]*294sworn and testified. Trial liad and concluded. Court finds for defendant, Hugh Flynn, Jr., for costs. Proceedings in aid of execution dismissed at cost of plaintiff. Issue clear release.” There does not appear to be any formal docket entry or any reference to said proceedings other than above noted. On January 1, 1940, it is ordered that the two cases, Nos. 247,098 and 188,014, between the same parties be and they are hereby consolidated and all further proceedings in said consolidated case be had under the No. 183,014. This entry, such as it is, follows by nearly a week the entry reciting the trial of the case. We assume that on January 15, 1940, the Court was really trying the two cases as if they had already been consolidated.

A motion for new trial was filed and overruled and a notice given by the defendants in the consolidated case that they will appeal, from said order rendered by the judge, to the Court of Appeals. It is not very clear as to which case appellant makes reference to in that the only order of the court prior to the date of the notice of appeal is the consolidation order providing that all further proceedings be had under the original number.

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Bluebook (online)
32 Ohio Law. Abs. 292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/monnett-v-flynn-ohioctapp-1940.