Case ID: ad_155/html/0418-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Burr, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph C. Dicks, Respondent, v. Jennie E. Dicks, Defendant. Michael Sullivan, Corespondent, Appellant.
    Second Department,
    February 7, 1913.
    Husband and wife — divorce — right of corespondent to appear after entry of interlocutory judgment.
    Where a party named as corespondent in a divorce action within a few days after learning of the pendency of such action serves a notice of appearance, pursuant to subdivision 3 of section 1757 of the Code of Civil Procedure, upon the attorney for the plaintiff and demands a copy of the complaint, and thereafter a copy thereof is served upon his attorney in accordance with such demand, his motion to vacate an interlocutory judgment entered prior to his appearance and for permission to come in and defend in so far as the issues affect him should be granted.
    Appeal by the corespondent, Michael Sullivan, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Dutchess County Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Orange on the 6th day of ¡November, 1912, denying his motion to vacate an interlocutory judgment of divorce and for permission to come in and defend the action.
    
      William A. Parshall [H. B. Fullerton with him on the brief], for the appellant.
    
      Richard A. Rendich, for the respondent.
   Burr, J.:

It is not necessary to decide whether the corespondent is entitled as matter of right to appear and defend this action so far as the issues affect him. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1757, subd. 2.) In Boller v. Boller (111 App. Div. 240), relied upon by respondent, Mr. Justice Ingraham, writing for the majority of the court, says: I would have no doubt of the power of the court upon a proper case presented to set aside a verdict, decision or any other proceeding that had been completed in the action before the appearance of the corespondent, and thus give him an opportunity to defend; but no such application in this case was made, and no facts were presented that would justify the granting of such an application. * * * I have no doubt of the power of the court to set aside a verdict where it is necessary to give the corespondent a hearing for his protection; but certainly where he had full knowledge of the action and the charges made, and was a witness on the trial, his subsequent appearance should not affect the validity of the determination of the issues and compel the plaintiff again to go through with the trial which has been determined in his favor.” In that case it appeared that the corespondent had knowledge of the pendency of the action, appeared upon the trial thereof, was examined as a witness on behalf of the defendant and took part in the trial. In the case at bar the contrary appears. In addition, within a few days after the corespondent learned of the pendency of this action, he served a notice of appearance upon the attorney for plaintiff and demanded a copy of the complaint. His notice of appearance, which contained a statement that it was served pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 2 of section 1757 of the Code of Civil Procedure, was accepted by plaintiff’s attorney, and thereafter a copy of said complaint was served upon his attorney in accordance with such demand. If this appearance was timely and appellant was entitled as a matter of right to a copy of said complaint, it must follow that he was equally entitled as matter of right to appear and defend such action so far as plaintiff’s allegations related to him. If his appearance was not timely because, after verdict rendered, then if plaintiff’s conduct in accepting his notice of appearance and serving upon his attorney a copy of the complaint did not constitute a waiver of his default, it is at least a cogent circumstance to be considered upon an application to open such default and to set aside the interlocutory decree which was not filed until nearly a month thereafter. We think, upon the facts here disclosed, that the corespondent should be given an opportunity to litigate the issues so far as they relate to him.

It is urged that the effect of such a decision will be to compel plaintiff a second time to litigate an issue already decided in his favor. That may be. But it was entirely within his power to avoid such a result by serving a copy of his pleading on the corespondent named therein. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1757, subd. 2.) Having failed to do this, under the circumstances here disclosed he may not be heard to object to a motion promptly and seasonably made on behalf of the corespondent to protect himself against the effect of the verdict previously rendered. ' 1

The order appealed from should be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion granted, with ten dollars costs, to the extent of vacating the interlocutory judgment previously entered, and permitting the corespondent to appear and defend such action, so far as the issues thereof affect him.

Jenks, P. J., Thomas, Oarr and Woodward, JJ., concurred.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted, with ten dollars costs, to the extent of vacating the interlocutory judgment previously entered, and permitting the corespondent to appear and defend such action, so far as the issues thereof affect him.