Court Opinion

ID: 6273345
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 15:52:08.979913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:58.820115
License: Public Domain

Opinion by
Rice, P. J.,
This judgment was entered on note with confession on April 14, 1898. On January 27, 1900, a rule was granted to show cause why the same should not be marked to the use of Mary Wassenfallen as collateral security for the payment of a certain judgment which she held against Henry Imhoff, the plaintiff in the present judgment. This rule was duly served on Imhoff and the defendant, an'd in due course was made absolute, neither party filing an- answer to the petition, or making any objection to the order prayed for, or even appearing. Subsequently the defendant applied for and obtained a rule to show cause why the foregoing order should not be set aside, and she be let into a defense. An answer was filed, depositions were taken, and after hearing the rule was discharged. From the latter order this appeal was taken.
The only excuse which the defendant offered for her neglect to appear and object to the order prayed for by Mary Wassenfallen was, that Henry Imhoff, the plaintiff in the judgment, told her that he would look after the matter and protect her rights. This was not a valid excuse. She was not justified in relying on him to protect her against a third person who was claiming adversely to both of them; and having had her day in court she was not in position to demand as a matter of right the revocation of the order marking the judgment to the use of Mary Wassenfallen. This is all that need be said as to that branch of the rule'under consideration.
The next and the really important question is as to her right to have the judgment opened and to be let into a defense. It is not necessary to cite authorities for the proposition that the law casts upon the assignee of a judgment note the duty of notifying the obligor of the change of ownership in order to protect his right, and prevent extinguishment of the debt by pay*167ment to the obligee. We assume, for the purposes of this case, that upon the hearing of the rule to show cause why she should not be let into a defense, the defendant could successfully invoke the application of this principle, if the facts warranted, notwithstanding her neglect to oppose the making absolute of the prior rule to show cause why the judgment should not be marked to the use of Mary Wassenfallen.
The defendant alleges that she had a settlement with the plaintiff in April, 1899, at which time she received a receipt in full for the judgment. In a sense she is corroborated by the plaintiff, but it is a significant fact that the alleged settlement was not made until after Mary Wassenfallen had issued execution upon the judgment which Henry Imhoff, the plaintiff, had stayed. It is also remarkable that neither Imhoff nor the defendant was able to testify as to the amount that was paid on the date of this alleged settlement. Granting, however, the fact of .payment by the defendant to the legal plaintiff in April, 1899, how does this effect the right of Mary Wassenfallen to whom the judgment note had been equitably assigned prior to its entry of record. The answer to this question depends upon the determination of the question of notice to the defendant of this assignment prior to April, 1899. The defendant in her petition alleges that she had no notice, and Mary Wassenfallen alleges in her answer that she was notified. Without rehearsing the evidence pro and con upon this question, it is sufficient to say that a finding that she had notice is implied in the adjudication from which this appeal was taken. In the state of the proofs it was a case in which it was the plain duty of the court to weigh the testimony, and after an examination of it we are of opinion that it so clearly preponderates in favor of the contention of the use plaintiff that the court committed no error, certainly is chargeable with no abuse of discretion, in discharging the rule. Upon the question of notice there is merely the oath of the defendant against the equally positive testimony of the use plaintiff’s witness, which is corroborated by all the circumstances of the case.
The order is affirmed and appeal dismissed at the costs of the defendant.