Adams v. Jackson
Adams v. Jackson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
There are two appeals in this case, one from an order of Hon. T. J. Mauldin striking out the answer of D. Eliza Lindsay as sham and irrelevant and granting judgment in favor of the plaintiff. The second appeal is from an order of Hon. M. L. Smith dismissing the application of defendant, D. Eliza Lindsay, for an order requiring the clerk of the Court to cancel the entry of a certain judgment against her in favor of the plaintiff in this same cause.
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The exceptions to- the order of his Honor, Judge Mauldin, are six in number. All are overruled as being without merit, except exception 4, which is:
“Because it was error for his Honor to hold that the first defense pleaded in defendant’s answer was sham, and error for him to strike out the same on that ground.”
In the third paragraph of defendant’s answer defendant uses the following:
3 “She denies that she has knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the allegations contained in fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of the complaint.”
This puts in issue the allegations contained in these paragraphs and entitled the defendant to a jury trial on these issues. It may work a hardship in some cases, but it would work a worse hardship in a number of cases and impede the administration of justice to strike out as sham, irrelevant and false an answer upon affidavits submitted to .the presiding Judge.
It has been held by this Court that the hearing of facts in a case by submission of affidavits is an unsatisfactory manner of determining the issues in the case. This is a law case, the plaintiff makes her complaint, the defendants make answer thereto, and the issues thus raised must be tried by a jury.
This exception is sustained, and judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Adams v. Jackson Et Al.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Appeal aot Error — Notice op Appeal — Effect — Supersedeas.— Notice given in due time of intention to appeal from an order striking out defendant’s answer and rendering judgment against her did not operate as a supersedeas and stay further proceedings thereon, and the entry of judgment by the clerk after the notice of appeal had been brought to his attention and filed was not improper. 2. Appeal and Error—Right—Entry op Judgment as Prerequisite.— Appeal cannot be taken to the Supreme Court until entry of judgment. 3. Pleading-—Denial op Allegations op Complaint.—The answer of defendant denying knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the allegations in specific paragraphs of the complaint put in issue the allegations in the paragraphs. 4 Pleading-—Striking Answer-—Frivolity or Falsity.-—If upon an inspection of the pleadings it manifestly appears that the answer is sham or frivolous, the trial Court can strike it and give judgment; if upon an examination of the pleadings it appears from them without extraneous outside evidence, such as affidavits, that the answer is false, it can be stricken'and judgment rendered. 5. Pleadings—Striking Answer—Frivolity or Falsity.—Where in a law case, an answer puts in issue material facts alleged in the complaint; these issues must be tried by a jury in the manner provided for by law, and not by the Judge upon ex parte affidavits.