Childs v. Lanterman
Childs v. Lanterman
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brought this action to quiet her title to certain lands in the county of Los Angeles, making Roy S. Lanterman, the appellant herein, one of the defendants. An answer to the complaint was filed by Stephen M. White, as attorney for all the defendants, including the appellant, and upon a trial of the cause, judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. When the action was commenced, and at the
Although it is provided in section 372 of the Code of Civil Procedure, that when an infant is a party he must appear either by his general guardian, or by a guardian ad litem appointed by the court, yet a judgment rendered against an infant, in which no guardian ad litem has been appointed, is not for that reason void (1 Black on Judgments, sec. 195; Emeric v. Alvarado, 64 Cal. 600; Kemp v. Cook, 18 Md. 130; 79 Am. Dec. 681); and a judgment rendered against him in an action in which he has appeared by an attorney will be upheld as fully as though he had appeared in person. (Barber v. Graves, 18 Vt. 290; Marshall v. Fisher, 11 Pa. St. 111; Townsend v. Cox, 45 Mo. 401.) The appearance by an attorney in his behalf will be assumed as authorized by
At the time the judgment herein was entered, the appellant had reached his majority. He could then have sought relief therefrom upon the ground of irregularity in the service of process upon him, or want of authority in the attorney to appear for him, by reason of his infancy; instead of which, however, he moved the court for a new trial, and failing therein, appealed to this court, not only from this order but also from the judgment, and it was not until after the affirmance of that judgment, nearly three years subsequent to its entry, that his infancy at the time it was rendered was brought to the attention of the court. Nor did he, upon the hearing of the present motion, make any personal showing or affidavit in his own behalf, the motion having been presented through an attorney without any affidavit by himself in support thereof, indicative of his desire to avoid the judgment. It is also to be observed that the appellant does not deny that the appearance of the attorney in his behalf was with his full knowledge and concurrence. We are of the opinion that by these acts the appellant submitted himself to the jurisdiction of
" The motion of the appellant herein for a new trial, and his appeal from the judgment upon the ground that the court erred in rendering such judgment, assumed that the court had jurisdiction of him, and was a waiver of his right to question that fact. (Fee v. Big Sand Iron Co., 13 Ohio St. 563; Mason v. Alexander, 44 Ohio St. 329.)
The order is affirmed.
Garoutte, J., and Van Fleet, J., concurred!
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BARBARA CHILDS v. ROY S. LANTERMAN
- Cited By
- 23 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Infancy—Validity of Judgment—Guardian Ad Litem.—A judgment against an infant in an action in which no guardian ad litem has been appointed is not for that reason void. Id.—Appearance by Attorney.—A judgment rendered against an infant in an action in which he has appeared by an attorney will be upheld as fully as though he had appeared in person. Id.—Authority of Attorney—Presumption—Ratification—Waiver of Objection.—The appearance by an attorney in behalf of an infant will be presumed to have been authorized by him, so far as the direction and consent of the infant can give authority; and if, after reaching majority, instead of repudiating such appearance he treats the judgment as having been regularly entered, and makes no objection upon the ground of illegality or want of jurisdiction, he waives his right thereafter to make such objection. Id.—Motion For a New Trial and Appeal—Confirmation of Judgment—Estoppel.—A judgment against an infant in an action in which he has appeared by attorney will he considered as confirmed, if, after he comes of age, he takes any action in reference thereto which is consistent only with assuming its validity; and if he thereafter moves the court for a new trial, and, failing therein, appeals to the supreme court from the order and judgment, he cannot, after.the affirmance of the judgment, maintain a motion to set aside the findings and judgment, and to strike out the answer filed in his behalf, upon the ground of his infancy at the time the answer was filed and the trial had, and for the want of authority in the attorney to appear in his behalf. Id.—Submission of Person to Jurisdiction of Court.—If a defendant, though not served with process, seeks such relief at the hands of the court as is consistent only with the hypothesis that the court has jurisdiction of the cause and of his person, he thereby submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court, and is bound by its action as fully as if he had been regularly served with process.