Long v. Cole

Citation74 N.C. 267
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of North Carolina
Decision Date31 January 1876
PartiesJOHN A. LONG v. A. T. COLE and others.
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE

It is always in order, so long as a case is pending, upon motion to set aside any irregular order therein, independent of the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Under the provisions of the C. C. P., a judgment, &c, may be set aside, on account of mistake, surprise or excusable neglect at any time within twelve months; and the fact that an order in the cause which in effect deprived the plaintiff of the right of appeal, was made at midnight when the plaintiff was absent and did not know, and had no reason to believe that the court was in session, and his counsel not being able to attend to the trial, constitutes a case of “excusable neglect.”

This was a MOTION in the cause heard before his Honor Buxton, J. at Chambers, in RICHMOND county, November 9th, 1875.

The following statement accompanies the record sent upon appeal to this court:

This was a motion made in lieu of a Bill of Review which was before the Supreme Court between the parties at January Term, 1875. 72 N. C. Rep.

Upon the return of the certificate in that case, that a Bill of Review was not the proper remedy, and sustaining the demurrer, the plaintiff asked leave to use his summons issued 16th of May, 1871, and complaint and affidavit, as ground for a motion in the original cause to set aside the decree rendered at Fall Term, 1870, of this court, and correct the same for errors alleged in the complaint and affidavit.

The motion was allowed to be entered as of Fall Term, 1871, upon payment of cost incurred in the prosecution of the action in the nature of a Bill of Review. The costs have been paid.

On the 22d day of April, 1875, plaintiffs served a notice on the defendant's counsel, notifying them that at the next term of the Superior Court he would move to set aside the judgment rendered in this cause at Fall Term, 1870. Previous to Spring Term 1871, he also served a notice of motion to re-open the account taken in the case, but the motion was not made, he having concluded to seek his relief in answer to a rule served upon him as Clerk of the Superior Court, wherein the defendants A. D. Cole and E. D. Covington sought to require him to apply the money in his hands as Clerk, in satisfaction of the decree made at Fall Term, 1870, which answer the Supreme Court held was not responsive to the rule.

The motion of the plaintiff was not formally drawn out and entered of record of this term. The defendants moved to dismiss the motion of the plaintiff.

The plaintiff was Clerk of the Superior Court of Richmond county at the commencement of this action, and continued as such until September, 1871. The report of the Commissioner was filed at Spring Term, 1870, and exceptions thereto were filed at the same term. No exception was taken by the plaintiff to the pro rata distribution of the fund among the co-partners, nor to the fact that the Commissioner distributed the nett balance of the fund among the partners without...

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2 cases
  • Hagins v. Redevelopment Commission of Greensboro, 683
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 31, 1969
    ...This rule with reference to constructive notice, however, bends to embrace common sense and fundamental fairness. For instance, in Long v. Cole, 74 N.C. 267, an order made at term was subsequently set aside, 'the order being made at midnight, when the plaintiff was absent, and did not know,......
  • Tucker v. The City of Raleigh
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 30, 1876
    ...OF RALEIGH.Supreme Court of North Carolina.June Term, 1876. OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE (For the Syllabus, see case between the two parties, 74 N.C. 267.) CIVIL ACTION, heard before WATTS, J., at January Term, 1876, of WAKE Superior Court. The facts are substantially the same as in the precedi......

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