Case ID: ohio-app_85/html/0372-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Wiseman, J. By the Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Nickerson, Appellee, v. Nickerson, Appellant.
    
      (No. 2027
    Decided April 9, 1949.)
    
      Mr. Irvin Carl Delscamp, for appellee.
    
      Mr. Gus W. Byttner, for appellant.
   Wiseman, J.

This is an appeal on questions of law from an order of the Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County, overruling a motion to vacate a default judgment rendered in a partition suit. Several grounds of error are assigned.

The principal question raised is whether the defendant-appellant had been served with summons in the action. A period of 18 months elapsed from the-time the action was filed until the property was sold. After sale and confirmation thereof, the appellant filed his motion to vacate the judgment.

There was a clear conflict in the testimony. The appellant contends that summons had not been served upon him. The return of service shows that he was served personally. When the return is regular on its face there is a presumption in favor of valid service. See 32 Ohio Jurisprudence, 483, Section 94. This presumption stands until overcome by proof showing the contrary.

The deputy sheriff, who made the service, testified that he knew the appellant and served him personally on the date stated in the return. Whether the deputy making the service actually signed the return on the day service was made or on a later date is immaterial in view of Section 11363, General Code, which authorizes the court to amend any process or correct a mistake in the return, before or after judgment, in the furtherance of justice. See Paulin v. Sparrow, 91 Ohio St., 279, 287, 110 N. E., 528.

In determining whether the appellant had been legally served with summons, the trial court was the sole .judge of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be attached to their testimony. It was within the province of the trial court to believe the evidence presented by the appellee and disbelieve the evidence presented by the appellant. The trial court found that persona] service had been made on the appellant. The several orders made by the court, of which appellant complains, conform to such finding. This court cannot find from the record that the judgment was not properly supported by the evidence. As we find no error in the record prejudicial to the rights of the appellant, the judgment is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

Miller, P. J., and Hornbeck, J., concur.

(Decided May 13, 1949.)

On Application for rehearing and Motion to strike.

By the Court.

This cause is submitted on application of defendant-appellant for rehearing and motion of plaintiff-appellee to strike such application from the files on the ground that there is no provision in the rules of the Courts of Appeals, effective January 1, 1949, permitting a rehearing or the filing of an application for rehearing.

Within ten days after the decision in this case was •announced, appellant filed his application for rehearing in the office of the clerk of courts. Under a former rule of the Courts of Appeals (Rule XI), applications for rehearing were recognized. It is quite evident that appellant has attempted to follow the procedure under the former rule which has been superseded and repealed effective January 1, 1949. There was no provision in the former rules, nor is there in the present rules, for filing an application for rehearing in the office of the clerk of courts. A motion to strike such application from the files is appropriately filed.

Although the present rules of court do not provide for the filing of an application for a rehearing, such application, if presented, will be given such recognition as the court deems proper. If a vital question is raised which would require a different decision by the court, the court will give due recognition to such application If the application is without merit, the court will summarily deny the application or ignore it entirely since no provision is made for a rehearing. Such application should not be filed with the clerk of courts, but should be presented to the presiding judge of the Court of Appeals.

In the instant case, the application fails to present any matter which was not formerly considered by the court. Appellant contends that the court did not pass upon all errors assigned as it is required to do by Section 12223-21, General Code. The nature of the question raised warrants a brief discussion.

In arriving at this court’s conclusion, all errors assigned were considered. The court found that the errors assigned were not well made and affirmed the judgment. Although the provision in Section 12223-21, that “all errors assigned shall be passed upon by the court,” is mandatory, sufficient compliance with this provision is shown where the court finds that there is no error in the record prejudicial to the rights of the appellant and affirms the judgment; such finding being tantamount, to overruling each and every error assigned and specific reference to the errors assigned by designated number not being required. In re Wysong, 30 Ohio Law Abs., 316.

The motion to strike the application for rehearing from the files is hereby sustained.

Motion sustained.

Miller, P. J., Hornbeck and Wiseman, JJ., concur.