Borenstein v. Borenstein

GIBSON, C. J.

This is an appeal from an order denying a motion to vacate an interlocutory and a final decree of divorce.

Respondent filed her complaint for divorce in Los Angeles County in April, 1933. Appellant was personally served and filed an answer denying the material allegations of the complaint. Respondent thereafter requested leave to file an amended complaint which was denied. Upon the subsequent issuance of an order to show cause, proceedings were had with respect to the custody pendente lite of the two minor children of the parties. The cause came on for trial in October, 1933, respondent appearing in person and by counsel. Appellant appeared by counsel only and offered no evidence in opposition to respondent’s showing. The trial court found that respondent had resided in the state and county for the requisite period, that the parties were husband and wife, and that respondent’s allegations of cruelty were true. Accordingly, an interlocutory decree of divorce was given in favor of respondent on January 16, 1934, together with an award of the custody of the children, with provision for their support, and for alimony, counsel fees and costs. The final decree was entered on January 18, 1935. No appeal was taken from either decree.

On June 28, 1937, nearly three years after entry of the final decree, appellant moved to vacate both the interlocutory and final decrees. In his affidavit in support of the motion, he stated that the proposed amended complaint, submitted by respondent and rejected by the trial court, tended to disclose

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that the marriage of the parties had been terminated in 1932 by a Mexican decree and that a report filed pending the action with respect to the custody of the children disclosed that respondent did not satisfy the residence requirements at the time of institution of suit. The motion was denied, and this appeal was taken.

The appeal is prosecuted upon a transcript certified to by the clerk of the trial court. Contrary to the appellant’s contention, the asserted invalidity of the decrees does not appear on the face of the judgment roll, which alone may be authenticated by the clerk’s certificate. Inspection of the transcript discloses that it contains many matters forming no proper part of a clerk’s transcript, including copy of the affidavit in support of motion to file amended complaint, copy of the proposed, but unfiled, amended complaint, copy of the purported Mexican decree, and copy of the custody report. Where, as here, the request to vacate is not based upon extrinsic fraud and is made approximately three years after entry and finality of the decrees, the motion is “governed by the rules applicable to collateral attack and must therefore be presented and determined upon the judgment-roll alone” and “every presumption is in favor of the validity of the judgment, and any condition of facts consistent with its validity will be presumed to have existed rather than one which will defeat it.”