Court Opinion

ID: 9810151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:41:33.174766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:25.743133
License: Public Domain

MONTGOMERY, J.,
dissenting.
The Superior Court acquired jurisdiction of this case upon an appeal by the plaintiffs, who are judgment creditors of the defendant, from the appraisers’ allotment of the defendants’ homestead. The appeal, notice of which was served on the defendant, was returned to the regular November Term of the Superior Court, and at that term the case was continued. A special term of Superior Court was duly and legally called and held in December, 1900, at which term the case was reached and called for trial (the defendant, however, not being present in person or by attorney), and an issue Avas submitted to the jury as to the time Aalue of the land allotted to the defendant as a homestead. The response to the issue Avas that the land was worth $1,300, whereupon a judgment was entered that certain commissioners appointed for that purpose should lay off to the defendant as his homestead a part of the land embraced in the first allotment of the value of $1,000. During the same *182special term of tbe Court the defendant lodged a motion to set aside the verdict and judgment. He affirmed in his affidavit made in support of the motion, after alleging that the value of the land was less than $1,000, and that he believed he could show it by witnesses; (4) “that he attended the November Term, 1900, of this Court for the purpose of giving attention to this action and his interest therein involved; (5) that the defendant had no knowledge or information whatever that the present December special term of this Court had been called, or that it would be held, and that this defendant was for the first time informed that the Court was in session and being held, by J. E. Turnage, who, on the day after the trial of this action by the Court and jury, by chance saw this defendant on the public road near his house, and to the great surprise of this defendant informed him that Court was in session in Kinston, and that on the day preceding, the issue herein had been submitted to and passed upon by a jury; (6) that the defendant was not represented at said trial, no evidence was offered in his behalf, and defendant verily believes that upon a trial of the issue on the evidence which defendant desires and will expect to offer if opportunity be given, the allotment of the homestead heretofore made herein will duly appear to be just and equitable and not in excess of the amount prescribed by law, to-wit, $1,000.”
The motion was resisted and counter affidavits filed for the plaintiffs, and the Court, after consideration upon the matter, found “that the defendant had no notice of the present term of the Court,” and rendered judgment as follows: “It is, after considering the affidavits and defendant in the exercise of the discretion reposed in the Court, ordered, considered and adjudged that the verdict of the jury herein rendered at this term and the judgment and order appointing commissioners and appraisers to allot and set apart to the defendant his homestead, be and the said verdict and judgment are *183hereby rescinded and set aside, and this cause is continued for trial by jury.”
I think there was error in allowing the motion. There can be no objection that the motion was made under sec. 274 of The Code, although it was made at the same term of the Court at which the verdict and judgment were rendered. Quincey v. Perkins, 76 N. C., 295. It is there said by the Court: “By sec. 133, C. C. P. (274 of The’Code), the Judge in his discretion may relieve a party from judgment, order or other proceeding taken against him through his surprise, etc., at any time in one year.” Of course, therefore, he may do it at the term at which a verdict (for this is included in the term “other proceeding”) is taken. By the way, it may be proper to remark that the word “verdict” itself has been added to sec. 274 of The Code, by chapter 81 of the Laws of 1893.
The finding of the fact by his Honor that the defendant had no notice of the present term of the Court is conclusive and can not be reviewed on the evidence in this Court. Weil v. Woodard, 104 N. C., 94. But the fact as found does not constitute excusable neglect, neither was the defendant excusable on the ground of surprise or mistake. Special terms of the Superior Curt are provided for by law for the purpose of enabling parties litigant to' have their cases speedily tried; and of the sessions of such courts all suitors must take notice a t their peril. It can be no sufficient excuse for relief against a judgment for the defendant to urge that he did not know of the term of the court at which judgment was rendered against him. “Parties to an action pending in court are fixed with notice of all motions and orders made at term.” Coor v. Smith, 107 N. C., 430; Stith v. Jones, 119 N. C., 428.
But when the facts found by the Court do not constitute excusable neglect in law, there is no discretion in the trial *184Judge to set aside a verdict and judgment on a motion for that purpose. Marsh v. Griffin, 123 N. C., 660; Stith v. Jones, supra.