Purcell v. Lynch , 155 N.Y.S. 101 ( 1915 )

Page, J.

It appears from the judgment-roll that this action was commenced by the service of a summons on January 18, 1909. Twenty-one days thereafter, or on February 8, 1909, Joseph D. Kelly served upon plaintiff’s attorney a notice of appearance entitled in the Supreme Court instead of in the City Court, which was returned by plaintiff’s attorney with a notation to the effect that no action between the plaintiff and the defendant was pending in the New York Supreme Court. No further pleading or notice of appearance was served by the defendant and about five years later the plaintiff entered judgment without notice to the defendant as in case of default in appearance.

The defendant moved upon the judgment-roll to vacate the judgment on the ground that it was entered without notice and from the order granting this motion and setting the case down for trial this appeal is taken. It does not appear from the record that a proper notice of appearance was ever served on behalf of the defendant. He was therefore fully in default and the plaintiff was entitled to enter judgment at any time without notice. 'The judgment is therefore perfectly regular and should not have been vacated upon that ground. The learned justice at Special Term apparently regarded the motion as one to open a default, but the papers were entirely insufficient to support such a motion, no excuse for the default having been presented, no merits having been shown and the motion having been made solely upon the judgment-roll and filed papers. The defendant’s proper remedy was a motion to open Ms default which could be granted only upon terms.

It is said that the plaintiff’s delay of five years in entering judgment should weigh against her as evidence of bad faith. It is difficult, however, to see how the delay has prejudiced the defendant. The only case in which the time within which a judgment may be entered is limited by the C'ode of Civil Procedure is where an order of arrest has been granted. Code Civ. Pro. § 572.

The order appealed from should be reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion denied with ten dollars costs, without prejudice to a motion by the defendant to open his default.

Bijur and Shearn, JJ., concur.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion denied with ten dollars costs.