Court Opinion

ID: 9541737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:28:11.266439+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:34.994565
License: Public Domain

*51Dissenting Opinion by
Yan dee Yoobt, J.:
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion.
The Plaintiff-Appellee in this action sued for goods gold and delivered in the amount of $12,115. The Defendant-Appellants filed an answer denying the sale of goods and merchandise at the prices alleged, denying that the prices were fair and reasonable, and denying that the sum demanded by the Plaintiff was due and owing.
These general denials were then followed by new matter which in paragraph 9 averred as follows: “9. The difference between the sum demanded according to plaintiff invoices and the amount properly owing by the defendants is Five Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-four Dollars Seventy-five Cents ($5,274.75) which sum defendants have at all times material herein offered to plaintiff in full settlement of their account.”
After service of answer and new matter, the Plaintiff directed the Prothonotary to enter judgment for it in the amount of $5,274.75, with interest, and with leave to proceed for the balance of the claim in the amount of $6,840.22. The Appellees moved to strike the partial judgment on the grounds that no definite amount was admitted to be due by the Defendants and that, in order to arrive at a sum due, the Prothonotary had to engage in interpreting the answer, which motion the lower court denied.
It appears to me that no matter how you read the Defendants’ answer, particularly paragraph 9 of the new matter, it is clear and certain that the Defendants admit they owe the Plaintiff the sum of $5,274.75, that the entry of judgment in that amount requires nothing more than a ministerial act, and that the arriving at this amount due requires no interpretation of the answer.
I would sustain the entry of judgment for the amount admitted to be due and would affirm the action of the lower court.