Baxter v. Prescott

WOOD (Fred B.), J.

Plaintiff brought this action for quiet title, alleging default by defendants in making monthly payments of the purchase price for certain real property. Defendants were served May 31, 1956. Demand for entry of their default was filed July 11, 1956. On July 31, a decree quieting title was filed.

October 9, defendants noticed a motion for October 15, to set aside the default and the judgment. October 25, 1956, this motion was granted by an order from which plaintiff has appealed.

Plaintiff concedes, as is proper, that “only in eases where the lower court has abused its discretion will the appellate tribunal reverse its action.”

(Hughes

v.

Wright,

64 Cal.App.2d 897, 903 [149 P.2d 392].) In support of his contention that here the trial court did abuse its discretion, appellant relies heavily upon the affidavit which he filed in response to defendants’ motion and endeavors to minimize the probative force of defendants’ affidavits and their verified answer and cross-complaint. The conflict in the evidence was resolved by the trial court. A reviewing court cannot participate in

[533]

the exercise of that function. It must accept the trial court’s appraisal of written testimony in affidavit form as well as oral testimony.

(People

v.

Kirk,

109 Cal.App.2d 203, 207 [240 P.2d 630];

Baratti

v.

Baratti,

109 Cal.App.2d 917, 922 [242 P.2d 22].) Upon appeal the inquiry is limited to the question whether or not there is substantial evidence to support the express or implied findings of the trial court.

It appears from defendants’ affidavits that negotiations for settlement were pending at the time default was entered; defendants were unaware of the default or of the judgment until the sheriff served them with the writ of possession ; defendants had paid in excess of $6,000 of the purchase price; if the default judgment be allowed to stand defendants will have suffered an extreme forfeiture in that they occupied the premises for 10 months, the reasonable value of such use and occupancy being not in excess of $1,500. The facts concerning the equities in favor of defendants were set forth somewhat more explicitly in the verified cross-complaint which defendants tendered with their notice of motion. It appears both from the complaint and from the cross-complaint that the full purchase price of the property was $19,950.