Court Opinion

ID: 6956280
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:38:06.550773+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:16.975000
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Thornton delivered the opinion of the Court: The bill, to which the demurrer was overruled, can not properly be characterized as a bill of review. The prayer for an injunction was necessary, to prevent the execution of a deed under the decree upon the cross-bill, until the court determined as to the vacation of the decree. The purpose of the bill, evidently, was to obtain relief, under section 18 of the chancery code (Eev. Stat. 1845, 95). That section should not be construed as applicable only to causes in which an interlocutory decree has been entered. It provides that, if an answer is not filed at the return term, the bill may be taken for confessed; but that the court may extend the time for answer, and, in such case, enter an interlocutory decree. This can only be upon request, and for good cause shown; otherwise, the decree is pro confesso: The last clause of the section is general in its language and application, that the court may, upon offer and a showing of sufficient cause, at the second term permit an answer and vacate the decree. If the interlocutory decree be entered, the defendant then has until some time in vacation or until the next term, according to the order, to file an answer, without any further permission of the court. In such case, the court exercises its discretion at the return term. The latter clause of the section can have no application to such circumstances, for it provides that the court may grant permission to file an answer at the second term. The plain reading of the section is that, at the first term, if the bill be not taken for confessed, the court may exercise a discretion and extend the time for answer, and enter the interlocutory decree; and if the bill be taken for confessed, permission may be given to answer at the subsequent term. This case is within the last clause of the section. There was sufficient cause shown to induce the exercise of the discretion of the court, and the decree is affirmed. Decree affirmed.