Case ID: wis_84/html/0378-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Lyon, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hoh, Respondent, vs. Hoh, Appellant.
    
      February 23
    
    March 21, 1893.
    
    
      Divorce: Failure to answer: Relief exceeding demand.
    
    Where, in an action for divorce, the relief demánded as to property is for alimony and temporary allowances only, and there is no answer, a judgment for a division of defendant’s property is erroneous, under sec. 2886, B. S.
    APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Outagamie County.
    Action for divorce. The grounds alleged are cruel and inhuman treatment of the plaintiff by her husband, the defendant, and failure on his part to support her. The complaint also alleges that the parties occupy twenty acres of land, in which the plaintiff has a life estate, and which has been and is cultivated and carried on mainly at her expense. It is further alleged that she has about $350 invested, and has no other property, and that the defendant has money and securities of the value of at least $3,500. It is not alleged that he has any other estate.
    The demand for judgment, as respects property and allowances, is “that suitable alimony may be allowed her out of his [defendant’s] estate, and that during the pend-ency of this action he be required to pay proper suit money and temporary support.” There are also demands for an injunction to restrain defendant from molesting or interfering with the plaintiff, and for general relief. The defendant made no defense or appearance to the merits of the action. The plaintiff made her proof, and judgment as by default went in her favor for a divorce and for $300, “in full for alimony, suit money, and costs in this action.” The judgment also contains the following clause: “And it is further adjudged and decreed that the possession of the land now occupied by them, viz., the west half of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section ETo. 24, in town 21 north, and range 16 east, and ■ all the personal property on said land or therewith, and belonging to said parties, excepting defendant’s personal apparel and carpenter tools, be, and henceforth is, the possession and property of the plaintiff, and defendant is hereby divested of all right, -title, or claim therein, and debarred from the same.”
    At the term during which such judgment was entered defendant moved the court to set aside the portion of the judgment last above quoted. The court denied the motion. The defendant appeals from the order denying such motion, and from the clause of the judgment last above quoted.
    Eor the appellant there was a brief by Joseph Roemer, attorney, and Humphrey Pierce, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. Pierce.
    
    They cited sec. 2886, E. S.; Zwickey v. Haney, 63 Wis. 464; Edleman v. Kidd, 65 id. 25; Where-att v. Ellis, 68 id. 61; McKenzie v. Peck, 74 id. 208; 'White-hill v. Jacobs, 75 id. 484-5; Walton v. Walton, 32 Barb. 203.
    Eor the respondent the cause was submitted on the brief of John JBoitensek.
    
   Lyon, O. J.

Sec. 2886, E. S., provides that “the relief granted to the plaintiff, if there be no answer, cannot exceed that which he shall have demanded in his complaint.” In the present case there is no answer, and the relief demanded in the complaint in respect to property is for alimony and temporary allowances, and those only.. The portion of the judgment from which this appeal is taken is for a division of the property. A judgment for alimony and one for a division of the estate of the husband are essentially different in character and results. The former is always under the control of the court, and may be changed or modified at any time, while the latter is final. E. S. secs. 2364, 2369.

When the defendant read the complaint of his wife he had the right to assume that, if a divorce was granted, the court would not make a division of his estate, but would only grant her alimony out of his estate. lie knew that, if dissatisfied with the amount of alimony awarded her, the court would always be open to him to apply for a revision thereof. If he did not desire to resist a divorce he might well make default and neglect to litigate the question of alimony in the first instance, while, had a division of estate been demanded, he would have litigated such demand. This consideration brings the case within the reason of the statute as stated by Chief Justice Cole in Zwickey v. Haney, 63 Wis. 464. It is there said: It often happens that a defendant prefers to let the plaintiff take the judgment he has demanded, and to which he has no valid defense, rather than be to the expense of making an answer or attending upon, the trial. This is true both in respect to actions in equity and to actions at law; and the safe rule is to hold, that it is error to take a judgment for a greater amount or for other relief than that demanded in the complaint, when there is no answer and the judgment goes by default.”

For the reasons above stated the order of the circuit court denying the motion of defendant to vacate the portion of the judgment appealed from, and that portion of the judgment, must be reversed. No costs are allowed the defendant, but he must pay the clerk’s fees in this court.

By the Gourt.— Ordered accordingly.