Bailey v. Sloan

California Supreme Court
Bailey v. Sloan, 65 Cal. 387 (Cal. 1884)
4 P. 349; 1884 Cal. LEXIS 567
Sharpstein

Bailey v. Sloan

Opinion of the Court

Sharpstein, J.

The demurrer was properly overruled. The demand according to the ad damnum clause of the complaint, exclusive of interest, exceeds $300. The ad damnum clause in the complaint is the test of jurisdiction, (Maxfield v. Johnson, 30 Cal. 545; Solomon v. Reese, 34 Cal. 28; Sanborn v. Superior Court of Contra Costa County, 60 Cal. 425; Dashiell v. Slingerland, 60 Cal. 653.)

Ho answer was filed, and the time within which the defendant was granted leave to answer having expired, the cleric was authorized to enter his default, and a judgment for the amount specified in the summons. (Code Civ. Proc. § 385.)

As the appeal is from the judgment alone, we have nothing before us except the judgment roll in which notice of the overruling of his demurrer would not appear, even if such notice had been given. If none was given, and the defendant wished to avail himself of the omission, he should have moved in the court below to set aside the default and judgment on that ground, and if his motion had been denied, appealed from the order denying such motion. In that way alone could he have got the question which he now seeks to raise before this court.

Judgment affirmed.

Thornton, J., and Myrick, J., concurred.

Hearing in Bank denied.

Reference

Full Case Name
JOHN E. BAILEY v. B. D. SLOAN
Cited By
21 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Jueisdiction of Supebioe Couet—Complaint—Ad Damnum Clause.—The ad damnum clause of the complaint is the test of jurisdiction, and where the demand according to that clause exceeds three hundred dollars, exclusive of interest, the Superior Court has jurisdiction of the action. Default Judgment—Entby by Olebk.—Where a demurrer to the complaint has been overruled, and the defendant fails to file an answer within the time granted him, the clerk is authorized to enter his default and judgment for the amount specified in the summons. Id. —Pbacitce— Ovekbuling Demueeeb—Notice of—Appeal.—If the defendant against whom a judgment by default has been taken for a failure to answer within ten days after his demurrer to the complaint has been overruled, desires to avail himself of an omission on the part of the plaintiff to give him notice of the overruling of the demurrer, he should move the trial court to set aside the default and judgment on that ground, and if the motion is denied, appeal from the order denying it.