Thero v. Franklin

160 P. 1188, 48 Utah 587, 1916 Utah LEXIS 58
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 12, 1916
DocketNo. 2852
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 160 P. 1188 (Thero v. Franklin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thero v. Franklin, 160 P. 1188, 48 Utah 587, 1916 Utah LEXIS 58 (Utah 1916).

Opinions

STRAUP, C. J.

This action was brought to quiet title to lands in Salt Lake county. It is alleged that the plaintiff is the owner and in possession thereof, and that the defendant asserts a groundless and hostile interest therein. He answered that his interest was that of a judgment lien. The plaintiff replied that the judgment was -void. The court found in favor of the defendant, held the judgment a lien, and rendered a decree accordingly. The plaintiff appeals. Her right is no greater or better than was the right of one R. W. Sloan, her immediate .grantor.

By the pleadings, stipulations of the parties, and the evidence, it is shown that in September, 1902, the defendant herein as plaintiff, commenced an action in- the District Court -of Weber county against Sloan and Thatcher on a judgment in the sum of $784 by the filing of an unverified complaint and issuance of summons. A copy of the complaint and the summons were personally served on both Sloan and Thatcher. They failed to appear, and so a default was entered against them on the 11th of November, 1902. On the same day an indorsement of default was made on the complaint by the clerk, and on that day this judgment, omitting the title of the court and cause, was rendered and entered in favor of Franklin and against Sloan and Thatcher:

“In this action the defendants, J. W. Thatcher and R. W. Sloan, having been regularly served with process, the proof of service thereof having been filed,' and having failed to appear and answer the plaintiff’s complaint filed herein, the legal time for answering having expired, and no answer or demurrer having been filed, the default of the said defendants, J. W. Thatcher and R. W. Sloan, in the premises having been duly entered according to law, upon application of said plaintiff, judgment is hereby entered against said defendants in pursuance of the prayer of said complaint.
[589]*589“Wherefore, by virtue of the law and by reason of the premises aforesaid, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the plaintiff do have and recover from the said defendants the sum of $1,316.14, with interest thereon at the"rate of 8 per cent, per annum from date hereof until paid, together with ,said plaintiff’s costs and disbursements incurred in this action, amounting to the sum of $9.20.
“Judgment rendered November 11, A. D. 1902.
“Witness, Hon. Henry H. Rolapp, Judge of said court, with the seal thereof affixed, this 11th day of November, 1902.
“C. R. HOLLINGSWORTH,
‘‘Clerk.”

There the matter rested until a day or two before the judgment was barred by the statute of limitations, when Franklin, on the 10th of November, 1910, to revive it, brought an action against Sloan and Thatcher in the District Court of Salt Lake county. Sloan answered, and, among other things, defended on the ground that the judgment was void; that it had been rendered and entered on an unverified complaint. While that action was pending, Franklin, on the 23d of September, 1911, appeared in the District Court of Weber county in the original action there commenced in September, 1902, and on ex parte proceedings on September 23, 1911, omitting the title of the court and cause, there obtained these orders: One:

“Upon motion of J. C. Walters, Esq., counsel for above-named plaintiff, it is ordered that the judgment, heretofore rendered against defendant, be, and same is hereby, set aside. Counsel for plaintiff is thereupon granted leave to verify the complaint, heretofore filed herein. The default of defendants is thereupon entered, upon their failure to answer or otherwise plead to plaintiff’s complaint within the time allowed by law, and judgment is granted plaintiff as prayed for upon the testimony heretofore given. The court thereupon signs the judgment in accordance with the above order.
“Dated: Ogden, Utah, September 23, 1911.
“J. A. Howell, Judge.”

[590]*590The other:

"Order Setting Aside Judgment and Allowing Verification of Complaint.
"It appearing to the court that on the 11th day of November, 1902, the clerk of this court entered a judgment by default against the above-named defendants, in said action, and that the complaint therein was not verified at the time of the filing thereof, and was not verified before said judgment was entered as provided by Section 3179 of the Revised Statutes of Utah, 1908 (1898) then in force. Upon application and motion of James C. Walters, Esq., attorney for the plaintiff, it is hereby ordered that the said judgment so entered in said action be, and the same is hereby, set aside, and the said plaintiff be, and he is hereby, permitted to amend his complaint by adding a verification thereof.
‘ ‘ Further ordered that, upon such verification being made, the clerk of this court proceed to enter default of the said defendants upon the complaint of the plaintiff as so amended.
"Done in open court this 23d day of September, A. D. 1911.
" J. A. Howell, District Judge.
"Filed September 23, 1911.
"S. G-. Dye, Clerk.”

On the same day, September 23, 1911, was attached to the original complaint a verification made by Franklin’s attorney. On that amended complaint then a further indorsement was made by the clerk that the default of Sloan and Thatcher "is hereby duly entered this 23d day of September, 1911, for failure to answer or otherwise plead to the plaintiff’s complaint within the time allowed by law. ’ ’ Upon such amended complaint thus verified, and upon the default thus entered, on the same day, this judgment, omitting the title of the court and cause was, by the Weber County District Court, rendered and entered in favor of Franklin and against Sloan and Thatcher:

"This cause came on this day to be heard upon the complaint of the plaintiff, and it appearing that the defendants, and each of them, have been personally served with summons, and have each failed to appear and answer within the time required by law; that the judgment heretofore entered against
[591]*591tbe said defendants on the 11th day of November, 1902, has been set aside by the judge of this court, and the plaintiff allowed to verify the complaint in said action; that the said complaint has been verified in accordance with the said order; thereupon the complaint, as verified the .default of the said defendants and each of them, has been duly and regularly entered by the clerk of this court; and the court having heard the evidence and proofs adduced on the part of the plaintiff, and being fully advised in the premises, it is now ordered and adjudged that the plaintiff, H. H. Franklin, do have and recover of the defendants, J. W. Thatcher and R. W. Sloan, the sum of $1,876.46, together with interest thereon from the date hereof until paid at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, and that plaintiff further have and recover of said defendants his costs and disbursements herein taxed, and $12.40.
“Done in open court this 23d day of September, 1911.
“J. A. Howell, District Judge.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Peterson v. Peterson
141 P.2d 882 (Utah Supreme Court, 1943)
Bullen v. Anderson
27 P.2d 213 (Utah Supreme Court, 1932)
Redfield v. First Nat. Bank of Brigham City
244 P. 210 (Utah Supreme Court, 1925)
Franklin v. Thatcher
178 P. 922 (Utah Supreme Court, 1919)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
160 P. 1188, 48 Utah 587, 1916 Utah LEXIS 58, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thero-v-franklin-utah-1916.