Court Opinion

ID: 9716137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 06:28:10.338414+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:42.118876
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Flood, J. :
In this case the testimony of the husband was taken at the master’s hearing on March 16, 1962. The master filed his report recommending a divorce on March 22. The wife then retained counsel who on March 29 filed his warrant of attorney and a petition seeking to have the cause referred back to the master in order to permit the wife to present a defense. The court dismissed her petition because she failed to show any justification or excuse for failing to present her defense at the time of the master’s hearing.
In view of the State’s interest in the preservation of the marriage relation, in my opinion the court should grant such a petition, presented within a week after the filing of the master’s report and within two weeks of the hearing, and allow the defendant to present testimony controverting that of the plaintiff. If there is *48great delay in presenting a petition for reference back, coupled with failure of any valid excuse, the court is justified in dismissing the petition. HoAvever, when the petition is presented promptly no harm can be done by allowing a rehearing even if no valid excuse is alleged for the wife’s neglect to appear at the earlier hearing. The interest of the State would be served by alloAving the wife to present her testimony and no substantial prejudice would result to the interest of a plaintiff with a good cause of action.
Weight, J., joins in this dissent.