Watson v. Miller Bros.

Texas Supreme Court
Watson v. Miller Bros., 69 Tex. 175 (Tex. 1887)
5 S.W. 680; 1887 Tex. LEXIS 801
Maltbie

Watson v. Miller Bros.

Opinion of the Court

Maltbie, Judge.

If appellant was served with citation, and there was evidence tending to show that he was, he was clearly guilty of negligence in not appearing and making defense to the suit, and however meritorious his defense may be, the court was right in not setting aside the judgment to allow him to present it. The undisputed evidence, however, shows that the judgment was rendered on a substituted petition, and that it was substituted without notice to appellant or any one authorized to represent him. The statute requires that notice of the substitution of any pleading or other paper shall be given to the adverse party. Hot to do so is error; and it could make no defense whether the adverse party was injured or not. The court had no authority to render judgment without a petition; the substituted petition being unauthorized, the judgment by default was erroneous, and we are of opinion that it should be reversed and a new trial granted to appellant.

Reversed and remanded.

Opinion adopted November 11, 1887.

Reference

Full Case Name
Josiah Watson v. Miller Brothers
Cited By
10 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Jtjdq-ment by Defatjlt. — No judgment by default can be entered In a case where the petition setting forth the cause of action has been substituted, with no notice given either to the defendant or to any one authorized to represent him, and this without regard to whether the defendant has been injured by the judgment or not.