Case Name: Lorenzo D. Dana et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. Benjamin C. Adams, Defendant in Error
Court: Illinois Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1852-06
Citations: 13 Ill. 691
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lorenzo D. Dana et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. Benjamin C. Adams, Defendant in Error.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Reports
Volume: 13
Pages: 691–695

Head Matter:
Lorenzo D. Dana et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. Benjamin C. Adams, Defendant in Error.
ERROR TO McHENRY.
A defendant has a right to withdraw a plea, but cannot withdraw his appearance without leave of the court.
A court may allow an appearance to be withdrawn, which has been entered through fraud or mistake; but a special application must be made and leave obtained for that purpose.
If a defendant withdraws his plea and appearance, it will be understood as an abandonment of the defence previously interposed.
This was an action of assumpsit, commenced in the McHenry Circuit Court by Adams, against L. D. Dana and another. Process was returned, served on L. D. Dana, Lorenzo Dana not found, at the January term, 1852, of that court. At the return term, the defendants both appeared by counsel, and filed a plea of non assumpsit, and also a special plea. To the plea of non assumpsit, the plaintiff added the similiter, and filed a demurrer" to the special plea. The cause was continued to the March term, of the Circuit Court. At the March term, 1852, Wilson, Judge, presiding, the following order was entered.
And now comes the plaintiff by Church & Willard his attorneys, and thereupon come the defendants by Smith, and withdraw the pleas filed herein by the said defendants, and also their appearance, and the said defendants being called come not, nor any one for them, but fail and make default herein, which is ordered to be entered of record. It is therefore on motion of the plaintiff’s attorneys, that plaintiff have judgment for his damages, but because these are uncertain and unknown to the court, this suit being brought upon an instrument of writing, for the payment of money only, it is therefore ordered that the clerk assess the same, and he having assessed and reported to the court, the sum of eight-hundred and sixty-eight dollars and thirty-six cents, which is ordered to stand confirmed and approved. It is therefore ordered and considered, that the plaintiff have and recover of the defendants, the sum, &c., &c., his damages so assessed, as also his costs and charges herein expended, and that he have execution therefor.
From this judgment the Danas sued out this writ of error, and assign for error, — that the court erred in rendering final judgment against both of the defendants, when process had been served on but one of them.
C. McClure, for plaintiffs in error.
Church & Willard, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Treat, C. J.
This was an action of assumpsit, brought by Adams against L. D. & L. Dana. But one of the defendants was served with process. Both appeared at the return term, and pleaded to the declaration. At the next term, a judgment by default was rendered against both, for the amount of the promissory note declared on. The entry of judgment was prefaced by this recital. "And now comes the plaintiff, by Church & Willard, his attorneys, and thereupon, come the defendants, by Smith, and withdraw the pleas filed herein by the said defendants, and also their appearance."
It is insisted, that the plaintiff was not entitled to judgment against both defendants. Both were before the court by the filing of pleas. They had a right, as a matter of course, to withdraw the pleas, for the withdrawal could not operate to the prejudice of the plaintiff. Ayers v. Kelly, 11 Ill. 17. But they had no such right to withdraw their voluntary appearance to the action. Leave of the court should have been obtained. A court may properly allow an appearance to be withdrawn, which has been entered through fraud or mistake. But a special application must be made to the court, and the leave obtained, before the appearance can be withdrawn. The record fails to show that any such leave was granted in this case. It does not even show that an application was made for the purpose. It only recites, that the defendants withdrew their pleas and appearance. This must be understood as an abandonment of the defence previously interposed, and also of any right further to appear in the case. In Michew v. McCoy, 3 Watts & Sergeant, 501, the appearance was withdrawn by the leave of the court. The case of Lodge v. The State Bank, 6 Blackford, 557, seems to proceed on the ground, that a defendant has a right, as a matter of course, to withdraw a voluntary appearanee,—a principle that we cannot for a moment sanction.
The judgment is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.