Court Opinion

ID: 5179781
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 04:40:32.698521+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:26:31.781890
License: Public Domain

Willard Bartlett, J.:
One of the defendants in the foreclosure suit was named in the summons and other papers simply as Kaul, with a blank before that name. The plaintiff did not add any description identifying the person intended, as permitted by section 451 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or designate this defendant by a fictitious name so far as his Christian name was concerned. The purchaser insists that these defects render the judgment void, and hence that she is entitled to be relieved from her purchase.
We think the omissions did not invalidate the judgment if the defendant intended was actually served. In that event they were only irregularities curable by amendment. Such is the clear weight of authority. (Weil v. Martin, 24 Hun, 645; Grant v. Birdsall, 2 Civ. Proc. Rep. 422.)
Before taking the title, however, the purchaser has the right to demand that the requisite amendment be made. This cannot be done upon the affidavit of Karl Kaul, which was read in the court below in opposition to her motion. In that affidavit the affiant states that he was duly personally served with the summons and a copy of the complaint in this action more than twenty days before the application for judgment; that his only interest in the premises involved herein was as a monthly tenant; that he has never appeared in the suit, has no defense and waives any and all objection to the judgment. He does not say, however, and there is no proof, that he is the defendant Kaul mentioned in the summons and complaint with a blank before his name. If the plaintiff shall supply proof of *34this fact and procure the judgment to be amended accordingly, the appellant must complete the purchase.
The order appealed from should be reversed, unless the plaintiff procures an amendment of the foreclosure judgment so as to cure the irregularity growing out of the insufficient designation of the defendant Haul. The purchaser should also have the costs of this appeal.
All concurred, except Cullen, J., not sitting.
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs, unless within twenty days the plaintiff causes the judgment to be amended by the insertion of the name of Karl Kaul as defendant. If the judgment is so amended then the order is affirmed, with ten dollars costs to the appellant.