Court Opinion

ID: 3222971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 15:59:13.479758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:57.252264
License: Public Domain

This cause is in this court on petition by the United States Cast Iron Pipe  Foundry Company, a corporation, for writ of certiorari to review the judgment of the circuit court awarding compensation to Ernest Evans, an injured employé of petitioner, in the case of Ernest Evans against petitioner in the circuit court of Jefferson county, Ala.
Ernest Evans, in his declaration to the trial court against the United States Cast Iron Pipe  Foundry Company, which was duly sworn to by him, alleged at the time of his injury he was earning $3.15 per day, *Page 160 
and as a proximate consequence of his injuries he lost, to wit, 90 days' time, and claimed compensation for it. There was judgment by default against the defendant. The court found and held that Ernest Evans was entitled to compensation beginning on October 15, 1920, and running for 12 months from that date at the sum of $10 per week for a period of 12 months, making a total of $520, and that all of said sum was past due, and rendered judgment in favor of Ernest Evans and against the defendant for $520. This judgment of the court is the error assigned.
In 15 Rawle C. L. p. 604, § 43, note 6, we find this principle:
"Therefore the rule is firmly established that, irrespective of what may be proved, a court cannot decree to any plaintiff more than he claims in his bill or other pleading."
And in 23 Cyc. p. 764, note 65, is the following:
"A judgment by default for a sum greater than that prayed for in the declaration or complaint, or justified by its allegations, is irregular and erroneous."
This principle is supported by Black on Judgments (2d Ed.) vol. 1, p. 200, § 138, note 1, and is given practical application by this court in Lister v. Vowell, 122 Ala. 264,269, 25 So. 564, last paragraph of the opinion.
The plaintiff in his petition claimed compensation for the damages for, to wit, 90 days. There was a judgment by default. The court on proof held plaintiff entitled to compensation for 12 months at $10 per week, and rendered judgment in his favor for the sum of $520. This was in excess of the amount claimed in the petition, and it rendered the judgment erroneous, subject to reversal or remittitur. Lister v. Vowell, 122 Ala. 264,25 So. 564, and authorities supra; Act Sept. 17, 1915 (Acts 1915, p. 610).
We will not reverse and render judgment in this cause, but will reverse the judgment and remand the cause for another trial on its merits. This is the proper course under the circumstances. There is no evidence for us to review, so we could fix the correct amount. It appears, from a motion to set aside this judgment on file in this court, verified by affidavit, which is not controverted, that the defendant paid the petitioner, Ernest Evans, full compensation for, to wit, the 90 days claimed by him, and that the cause was to be dismissed; but judgment by default was afterwards inadvertently rendered for the amount stated.
Let the judgment be reversed, and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
ANDERSON, C. J., and SOMERVILLE and THOMAS, JJ., concur.