Manley v. Kalamazoo Circuit Judge
Manley v. Kalamazoo Circuit Judge
Opinion of the Court
Lucy C. Eames, individually and as administratrix of the estate of Lovett Eames, deceased, filed a bill against the relator, as administrator of the estate of Elijah W. Morgan, deceased, Otis C. Johnson, executor and trustee of the estate of Lucy W. S. Morgan, deceased, and Lucy D. S. Parker, individually and as executrix of the estate of Franklin Parker, deceased. The bill sets out that relator’s intestate, Elijah W. Morgan, was permitted by complainant to handle the assets of the estate of Lovett Eames, and claimed there was a large sum of money due from his estate to the estate of Eames. The defendants Johnson and Parker appeared, and demurred to the bill. "While these demurrers were pending, the relator caused his appearance to be entered by D. O. French, as solicitor. A few days later the solicitors of complainant entered an order dismissing the bill as to defendants Johnson and Parker, and almost immediately, without answer or other pleading from relator, a decree was entered against him amounting to $145,485.37. The decree was entered without proofs, and upon the consent of Mr. French.
Subsequently a petition was filed by the relator to vacate this decree and permit a defense to be made; setting up that the relator expected that the defendants Johnson and Parker would make the principal defense in the case, and that, while he employed Mr. French as' solicitor, he did not instruct him to make a particular defense to the case. It does not appear, except from the fact of the general employment of Mr. French, that he was authorized to consent to this decree; and we are strongly impressed with the view that, upon the practice being conformed to, an opportunity should be afforded the relator to enter into a defense on the merits. But attention is challenged to the fact that the.requirements of Chancery Rule No. 25 were not met in the application that was made to the circuit judge.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.