Case Name: ALDRICH v. CRUMP
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1904-03-31
Citations: 128 F. 984
Docket Number: No. 351
Parties: ALDRICH v. CRUMP.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 128
Pages: 984–984

Head Matter:
ALDRICH v. CRUMP.
(Circuit Court, E. D. Pennsylvania.
March 31, 1904.)
No. 351.
1. Judgments — Default—Application to Open — Laches.
Plaintiff, though properly served with summons by leaving a copy with an adult member of her family, lmew nothing of the suit, or a judgment subsequently recovered by default, until an attachment execution was issued, 11 years after the judgment had been taken by default She did not authorize an appearance to be entered in her behalf, though such authority was given in form by her husband without her knowledge, and immediately on learning of the judgment she applied to open the same. Held, that plaintiff was not guilty of laches, and that her application should be granted.
A. T. Johnson, for plaintiff.
Charles F. Warwick, for defendant.

Opinion:
J. B. McPHERSON, District Judge.
It must be conceded that this is a close case. I am satisfied, however, that the defendant did not have actual notice of the service of the summons, although a legal service seems to have been made upon an adult member of the family; that she knew nothing about the suit, or the judgment, until an attachment execution was issued in August, 1903, xx years-after the judgment was taken by default; and that she did not authorize an appearance to be entered in her behalf, although such authority was given in form by her husband without her knowledge. Immediately upon learning of the judgment she applied for this rule, and she must be acquitted, therefore, of the charge of laches, for she acted as soon as the facts were actually brought to her notice. On the merits, the application is open to some-criticism, as I have already indicated, but on the whole of the evidence I think enough appears to justify me in permitting the defendant to submit her defense to a jury.
The rule to open the judgment is therefore made absolute; and it is further ordered that the defendant's affidavit, upon which the rule was granted, shall stand as an affidavit of defense, and that the defendant plead to the plaintiff's statement on or before the 15th day of April.