Case ID: how-pr_8/html/0312-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Barculo, Justice.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SUPREME COURT.
    Van Benthuysen agt. Lyle.
    A mere irregularity in entering judgment can not be taken advantage of after one year. (Sec R. S. and Code, § 174.)
    Where the plaintiff’s attorney received an answer by mail, which he returned because the postage was not paid, and entered judgment as upon default, Held, that all other proceedings being regular, the judgment was not void for want of jurisdiction, but merely irregular.
    
      Dutchess Special Term,
    
    
      June, 1853.
    The complaint was served February 25, 1850, so that the time for answering expired on the 17th of March. On the 16th of March the plaintiff’s attorney received an answer by mail, hut the postage was not paid, and he immediately returned it. On the '21st of March plaintiff’s attorney entered up judgment for want of an answer.
    The defendant now moves to set aside the judgment as irregular and void.
    
    L. Maison, for Plaintiff.
    
    Wm. Eno, for Defendant.
    
   Barculo, Justice.

The most obvious objection to this mo-tion is presented by the lapse of three years since the proceedings complained of. Considered as an irregularity, it is clear, that the defendant could not obtain relief by motion after the judgment had been entered one year. (2 R. S., and Code § 174;) Whitney agt. Kenyon, (7 How. Pr. Rep., 458;) Park agt. Atwell, (5 How. Pr. Rep. 381.)

The defendant’s counsel endeavors to obviate this by claiming that the judgment is void, on the ground that the court never obtained jurisdiction. In this, however, he is mistaken. For if we assume against the balance of testimony, that the defendant did pay the postage, still the judgment is merely irregular. The suit was commenced by the service of the summons and complaint. Proof of this fact was filed, and also an affidavit that no answer had been received. This authorized the clerk to enter up the judgment according to section 246 ■of the Code, The court had jurisdiction of the subject matter and of the parties, the defendant having been brought before the court by service of process. The judgment was therefore merely irregular and not void.

The motion not having been made in time must be denied with $10 costs.