Halsey v. Comeau

Supreme Court of Louisiana
Halsey v. Comeau, 1 Mann. Unrep. Cas. 310 (La. 1880)
Manning, Spencer

Halsey v. Comeau

Opinion of the Court

Spencer, J.

The State Auditor took executory process on amortgage note against Felix Berard. Halsey on grounds not necessary to mention took out an injunction. The auditor filed an answer, praying its dissolution with damages, and also prayed for a judgment in personam against Felix Berard the debtor, for amount of the note. This answer was served on Berard, and amounted legally to a conversion of the proceeding via executiva into that via ordinaria *311a judgment by default was entered against Berard on the 7th of November, 1877; on the 11th of April, 1878, the State’s attorney moved to confirm the default against Berard; the evidence was introduced and noted and the “case taken under advisement” by the court. On the 27th of April, 1878, Berard filed answer settingup various defences against the State’s demand. On May 4, 1878,Ithe court awarded final judgment confirming the default — and not noticing the answer of Berard — who appeals.

The sole question is as to Berard’s right to file this answer on the 27th of April.

The court had taken up the case, on motion to confirm default, received the evidence and taken it under advisement sixteen days before the answer was filed. We think the court did not err in disregarding the answer filed after the trial of the case had closed, and after it was under advisement.

The court, in 6 A. 119, went to the very verge of the law, when it permitted an answer to be filed, after plaintiff had offered a portion of his evidence; the court stating as a reason that no delay was asked or would have resulted.

Judgment affirmed.

070rehearing

On application for rehearing,

Manning, C. J.

The application is based on the allegation that the judge below took under advisement, not the evidence adduced to confirm the default, but the objections, and laws quoted thereunder in opposing that confirmation, and that at the time the objections were overruled, and a new motion made to confirm, the answer had already been filed.

We give implicit credence to the statement by the attorney, but unfortunately the minutes of the lower court shew the precise proceedings mentioned in our original opinion, and if we should introduce the practice of being guided by the recollection of counsel touching judicial proceedings instead of the official record, we should soon revolutionize the whole system of practice.

Rehearing refused.

Reference

Full Case Name
W. F. Halsey v. J. B. Comeau, Sheriffs.
Status
Published