Cuoio v. Koseris, 200 P.2d 359 (Idaho 1948). · Go Syfert
Cuoio v. Koseris, 200 P.2d 359 (Idaho 1948). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
28 citation events (6 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Graceland Care Center of New Albany, LLC v. Teresa Hamlet (miss, 2017-11-02)
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Top citers, strongest first. 3 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Graceland Care Center of New Albany, LLC v. Teresa Hamlet (2×) also: Cited as authority (quoted)
Miss. · 2017 · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
a memorandum decision is not effective as an order until signed by the trial judge or entered in the minutes.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Graceland Care Ctr. of New Albany, LLC v. Hamlet Ex Rel. Kinard (4×) also: Cited as authority (quoted)
Miss. · 2017 · quote attribution · 4 verbatim quotes · confidence high
a memorandum decision is not effective as an order until signed by the trial judge or entered in the minutes.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lutz v. Iowa Swine Exports Corp.
Iowa · 1981 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Jur.2d Motions, Rules, and Orders, § 38 (1971); cf. Cuoio v. Koseris, 68 Idaho 483, 485 , 200 P.2d 359, 360 (1948) (oral conversations over telephone or on street between court and counsel are not orders); Brewer v. Beers, 280 Or. 251, 254-55 , 570 P.2d 650, 651 (1977) (oral ruling on motion held invalid because judge might change his mind from time of oral ruling until he entered his formal order).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
CUOIO Et Al.
v.
KOSERIS Et Al.
No. 7454..
Idaho Supreme Court.
Nov 3, 1948.
200 P.2d 359
H.J. Swanson, of Pocatello, for appellants. After a clerk's default has been entered, the defaulting defendant cannot thereafter plead, and any pleading filed thereafter should on motion be stricken. In this case it should be remembered, the court had no jurisdiction to set aside the clerk's default entered as to Saydes and Pattis, since the 6 mo. period allowed by statute had expired, long before the court made such order. Bancroft, Code Practice and Remedies, Vol. 3, Sec. 1803; also Sec. 1804; Agua Fria Copper Co. v. Bashford-Burmister, 4 Ariz. 203 , 35 P. 983 ; Irvine et al. v. Davy, 88 Cal. 495 , 26 P. 506 ; Munger v. Nelson, 61 Mont. 104 , 201 P. 286 ; Harr v. Kight, 18 Idaho 53 , 60 , 108 P. 539 . B.A. McDevitt, of Pocatello, for respondents. The vacation of a default judgment is entrusted to the discretion of the trial court and such discretion will not be reviewed unless abused. Wagner v. Mower, 41 Idaho 380 , 237 P. 118 ; Mortgage Co. Holland America v. Yost, 39 Idaho 489 , 228 P. 282 ; Zounich v. Anderson, 35 Idaho 792 , 208 P. 402 . It is well settled that the entry of a default is a privilege and that not only may the right to a default be waived but so may the default itself after entry. This waiver may be express or implied. Kingsbury v. Brown, 60 Idaho 464 , 92 P.2d 1053 , 124 A.L.R. 149; American Jurisprudence, Judgments, volume 31, page 127. Failure by a party entitled to a default judgment to move for such judgment promptly upon accrual of a default, or at least an unreasonable delay in doing so is ordinarily held to constitute a waiver of the right to such judgment. 31 American Jurisprudence, Judgments, section 510, page 127.
Givens, Holden, Hyatt, Baker, Miller.
Cited by 12 opinions  |  Published
1 passages pin-cited by 2 cases
Pinpoint authority: bottom 67%
Citer courts: Mississippi Supreme Court (4)
GIVENS, Chief Justice.

Appellants filed August 31, 1946, a complaint in unlawful detainer, for restitution of premises, $300.00 a month rental trebled as damages, and $1,000.00 general damages. A general demurrer thereto was overruled November 25, 1946, and answer not being filed within the fifteen days granted there-: for, default was entered December 17, 1946, in a term which expired January 5, 1947. Answer was filed December 20, but the record is silent as to service upon appellants or their attorney as required by Section 5-815, I.C.A. A motion to set aside the default was filed September 4, 1947, based upon the affidavit of attorney for respondents as follows: “ * * *; that on or about the ninth day of December, 1946, he called the presiding judge, having jurisdiction of said cause, on the telephone and requested an extension of time for filing answer in said cause; that said Judge McDougall, then in words to the effect stated that, ‘You can have an extension of a few days.’ That thereafter, and on the 20th day of December, 1946, the said answer was filed. That •this affiant was never advised until court on September 4th, 1947, that a default had been entered and that the Clerk of the Court accepted the said answer without advising that a default had been entered. That, through the undersigned relying on the extension of time by the Court the said default was entered and that the same was done without the consent of the court[*485] and against the express direction of the court”, and requesting that an order as indicated in the asserted oral conversation be entered nunc pro tunc. Motions opposing the application to set aside the default, etc. and asking for judgment on the default, were interposed. The court set aside the default, but did not rule as such on the motion for the entry of the order nunc pro tunc. The cause thereafter proceeded to trial and judgment for respondents. The appeal herein is from the judgment and challenging the order setting aside the default.

The only showing in support of setting aside the default was the asserted telephone conversation which respondents contend amounted to an order. The time within which the defendants were to file their answer having been fixed at fifteen days from the date of the overruling of the demurrer, the only way that time could be extended was by proper order of the court or by agreement of the parties, express or implied. By Section 12-401, I.C.A., an order must be in writing, signed by the judge or entered in the minutes. A memorandum decision is not effective as an order until signed by the trial judge or entered in the minutes. Idaho Farm Development Co., v. Brackett, 44 Idaho 272, 257 P. 35.

Oral conversations over the telephone or on the street between court and counsel are not orders. In re Skerrett’s Estate, 80 Cal. 62, 22 P. 85; Nellis v. Justices’ Court of Los Angeles Tp. et al., 20 Cal.App. 394, 129 P. 472. Therefore, conceding the judge did orally grant additional time, same was not a recognizable order effective to grant further time. Goade v. Gossett, 35 Idaho 84, 204 P. 670; Spivey v. District Court, 37 Idaho 774, 219 P. 203; First Nat. Bank of Pocatello v. Poling, 42 Idaho 636, 248 P. 19; Idaho Farm Development Co. v. Brackett, supra. This is the only basis in support of the application to have the default set aside, and being insufficient, the court erred in setting aside the default. Kingsbury v. Brown, 60 Idaho 464, 92 P.2d 1053, 124 A.L.R. 149; Curtis v. Siebrand, 68 Idaho 285, 194 P.2d 281.

Respondents urge that appellants, by waiting approximately six months after -the entry of the default before applying for judgment, waived the default. 31 Am. Juris. 127, Sec. 510.

The statute does not require that notice be given the adverse party before the entry of the default or judgment on default. Section 7-801, I.C.A.

While there are cases tending to support respondents, they are upon facts, and statutes substantially different, from herein. One statute authorizes the entry of default judgment in a subsequent term of court: Section 7-801 (2), I.C.A. The application to set aside the default was not within the six months from the beginning of the subsequent term, as required by statute: Section 5-905, I.C.A. The application, therefore, was not in time and[*486] initially nugatory and unavailing. Commonwealth Trust Co. of Pittsburg v. Lorain, 43 Idaho 784, 255 P. 909; Rice v. Rice, 46 Idaho 418, 267 P. 1076; Backman v. Douglas, 46 Idaho 671, 270 P. 618.

Such disposition of the cause obviates the necessity of considering other asserted errors.

Judgment is, therefore, reversed and the cause remanded with instructions to reinstate the default and upon proper proof, Sections 9-312, 9-316, 9-317, I.C.A., Gustin v. Byam, 41 Idaho 538 at 544, 240 P. 600, enter an appropriate judgment. Costs awarded to appellants.

HOLDEN and HYATT, JJ., and BAKER, D. J., concur. MILLER, J., sat at the hearing, but did not .participate in the opinion.