Case Name: W. F. Halsey vs. J. B. Comeau, Sheriff, et als.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1880
Citations: 1 Mann. Unrep. Cas. 310
Docket Number: No. 1004
Parties: W. F. Halsey vs. J. B. Comeau, Sheriff, et als.
Judges: 
Reporter: Unreported cases heard and determined by the Supreme Court of Louisiana, from January 8, 1877, to April, 1880
Volume: 1
Pages: 310–311

Head Matter:
No. 1004.
W. F. Halsey vs. J. B. Comeau, Sheriff, et als.
An answer filed after motion to confirm the judgment by default had been made, evidence received, and the case taken under advisement, comes too late, and the confirmation of the default without noticing the answer will be approved, the evidence justifying it.
This court must be governed by the minutes of the lower court, and cannot listen to a different state of facts set up by counsel. If it should be guided by the recollection of counsel instead of the official record, the whole system of practice would be revolutionized.
Appeal from the District Court for St. Martin. Fontelieu, J.
J. E. Mouton for Berard Appellant. Merchant for Defendants.

Opinion:
Spencer, J.
The State Auditor took executory process on amortgage note against Felix Berard. Halsey on grounds not necessary to mention took out an injunction. The auditor filed an answer, praying its dissolution with damages, and also prayed for a judgment in personam against Felix Berard the debtor, for amount of the note. This answer was served on Berard, and amounted legally to a conversion of the proceeding via executiva into that via ordinaria — a judgment by default was entered against Berard on the 7th of November, 1877; on the 11th of April, 1878, the State's attorney moved to confirm the default against Berard; the evidence was introduced and noted and the "case taken under advisement" by the court. On the 27th of April, 1878, Berard filed answer settingup various defences against the State's demand. On May 4, 1878,Ithe court awarded final judgment confirming the default — and not noticing the answer of Berard — who appeals.
The sole question is as to Berard's right to file this answer on the 27th of April.
The court had taken up the case, on motion to confirm default, received the evidence and taken it under advisement sixteen days before the answer was filed. We think the court did not err in disregarding the answer filed after the trial of the case had closed, and after it was under advisement.
The court, in 6 A. 119, went to the very verge of the law, when it permitted an answer to be filed, after plaintiff had offered a portion of his evidence; the court stating as a reason that no delay was asked or would have resulted.
Judgment affirmed.