Reidy v. Scott

California Supreme Court
Reidy v. Scott, 53 Cal. 69 (Cal. 1878)

Reidy v. Scott

Opinion of the Court

By the Court :

If the affidavit of merits is sufficient, we are satisfied that, under the views expressed in Watson v. S. F. and H. B. R. R. Company, 41 Cal. 17, the Court should have granted the motion to open the default. The answer, which was filed on the same day the default was entered, states facts which, if proved, would constitute a meritorious defense. The statements in the affidavit of defendant, that he is advised that he has a “ good and perfect defense,” and in the affidavit of his attorney that, in his opinion, *74defendant has a good defense; although in artificial averments of the fact that he has a defense on the merits, are to be referred to the answer actually filed. In People v. Rains, 23 Cal. 129, the affidavit of the defendant’s attorney was to the effect that he had mistaken the day of service, and that he prepared a demurrer to the complaint. The Court held that when the affidavit shows that the defense rests on matters appearing on the face of the complaint, (by which, of course, is meant matters of defense which, except for the interposition of a demurrer, would be deemed to be waived) the defense is merely of a technical character, and the affidavit is insufficient. But here an answer was prepared, and the advice of the attorney, that defendant had a good and perfect defense, was based on a full and fair statement of all the facts of the case. (See defendant’s affidavit.) We think the default should have been set aside.

Judgment and order reversed, and cause remanded.

Reference

Full Case Name
JOHN L. REIDY and JOS. NOLAN v. SAMUEL SCOTT and MARY S. SCOTT
Cited By
9 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Openihs Deeauet.—A showing that the defendant made a mistake as to the day ho was served with a copy of the complaint and summons; that he was ready with his answer containing allegations of meritorious defense on the day the default was entered; that upon a full and fair statement of all the facts of the case, he is advised by his counsel that he has a good and perfect defense, entitles the defendant to have the default set aside.