Wilson v. Thaggard and Stone v. Thaggard

Barnhill, J.

The brief filed and the argument made by the appellee discloses that the defendant has misconceived the record on the former appeal.

Wilson v. Robinson, 224 N. C., 851 . His written motion appearing of record was to vacate and set aside the judgments by default. The motion was allowed and the defendant was granted time within which to plead. The actions were not dismissed.

*350 So then, when the cause came on for hearing on the motion last filed, summons had been issued and duly served. Complaints had been filed in the office of the clerk but copies thereof had not been delivered to defendant. G. S., 1-121. The defendant had made a general appearance and moved to vacate the judgments by default and had obtained time within which to answer. After the judgment was affirmed he failed to answer. Judgments by default were entered.

On this state of the record the court below was without authority to dismiss the actions.

A defendant who makes a general appearance thereby waives irregularities in the service of summons and subjects himself to the jurisdiction of the court. G. S., 1-103;

McDonald v. MacArthur, 154 N. C., 122 , 69 S. E., 832 ;

Motor Co. v. Reaves, 184 N. C., 260 , 114 S. E., 175 ;

Ashford v. Davis, 185 N. C., 89 , 116 S. E., 162 ;

Tucker v. Eatough, 186 N. C., 505 , 120 S. E., 57 ;

Wooten v. Cunningham, 171 N. C., 123 , 88 S. E., 1 ;

Burton v. Smith, 191 N. C., 599 , 132 S. E., 605 ;

Bizzell v. Mitchell, 195 N. C., 484 , 142 S. E., 706 ;

Bank v. Derby, 215 N. C., 669 , 2 S. E. (2d), 875 ;

Credit Corp. v. Satterfield, 218 N. C., 298 , 10 S. E. (2d), 914 ;

Vestal v. Vending Machine Co., 219 N. C., 468 , 14 S. E. (2d), 427 ;

Willimns v. Cooper, 222 N. C., 589 , 24 S. E. (2d), 484 .

The same result follows when the defendant obtains time within which to answer.

Cook v. Bank, 129 N. C., 149 ;

Scott v. Life Association, 137 N. C., 516 ;

Lexington v. Indemnity Co., 207 N. C., 774 , 178 S. E., 547 ;

Vestal v. Vending Machine Co., supra.

The defendant, having made a general appearance and moved to vacate the judgments by default and having been granted time within which to file answer, was in court and subject to its jurisdiction. It was his duty to answer or demur. He failed to do so at his peril.

The court below vacated the default judgments entered 9 February, 1945, for that “each of said judgments was entered without notice to the defendant and that the court had no jurisdiction to render said judgments.” Thus it acted upon a misapprehension of the law. As the defendant had subjected himself to the jurisdiction of the court and had failed to answer, the court had authority to enter the judgments. Notice of an intention to apply therefor is not required.

The record fails to disclose that the judgments were entered before the time for answering had expired or other irregularity in regard to the entries thereof. It likewise fails to disclose excusable neglect or meritorious defense. Indeed, neither is alleged. The court was without discretion to vacate the same except upon a finding of fatal irregularity or excusable neglect and meritorious defense. G. S., 1-220;

Johnson v. Sidbury, ante, p. 208.

The judgment below is Reversed.