Butler v. Roma-Lind, Inc.

WOOD, P. J. Appeal by defendant Roma-Lind, Inc., from an order denying its motioin to set aside a default judgment.

The default of defendant Roma-Lind, Inc., a California corporation, was entered on August 20, 1959. Judgment upon such default was entered on March 15, 1960. Said defendant’s notice of motion to vacate the default judgment was filed on April 29, 1960. The motion was heard and denied on May 13, 1960.

The complaint alleged that the plaintiff was the owner and operator of a duly licensed collection agency; that on or about June 26, 1958, the defendants entered into a written agreement with Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., whereby Columbia agreed to furnish to defendants broadcast time with a contract balance due of $6,337.40, and that “a copy of [862]said agreement is attached hereto [to the complaint] and made a part hereof, marked Exhibit ‘A’ ”; that Columbia’s claim was assigned to plaintiff; that the unpaid balance due on the agreement is $6,337.40. The prayer of the complaint was for $6,337.40, with interest at 7 per cent per annum from June 26, 1958, and for costs.

Defendant Schooler answered the complaint, denying generally the allegations thereof. At the trial of the issues, as between plaintiff and Schooler, counsel for Schooler made a motion to exclude all evidence on the ground that the complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. In his argument with reference to that motion he said that the complaint alleges that the parties entered into a contract on June 26, 1958, and he also said that Exhibit A attached to the complaint “shows a contract dated January 22, 1958.” Exhibit A consists of 21 sheets of paper, and on each sheet there is writing indicating that each sheet is a certain numbered page of Exhibit A. (Each page is a photostatic copy.) Counsel for Schooler referred to the last page of Exhibit A (i.e., p. 21) which states at the top thereof, 1 ‘Network Television Facilities Amendment. ’’ That purported amendment bears the date June 26, 1958, but there is no signature thereon. Thereupon, counsel for plaintiff said that the allegation that the agreement was made on June 26, 1958, was a “typographical error” and it should read January 22, 1958, instead of June 26, 1958. The motion of defendant Schooler to exclude evidence was denied. Counsel for plaintiff made a motion to correct the error (as to the alleged date of the agreement)-—to read January 22, 1958, instead of June 26, 1958. The motion was granted. The trial judge (Judge Irwin) said that “it is rather obvious that it is a typographical error . . . the contract attached to the complaint discloses that the true date of the contract was January 22, so it can’t be anything else but an obvious typographical error.” Counsel for defendant Schooler stipulated that $6,337.40 has not been paid by Schooler to Columbia Broadcasting System, and that amount is due, owing and unpaid. Then the trial judge proceeded with the proof regarding the judgment to be rendered upon the default. Mr. Huffman, a salesman employed by Columbia Broadcasting System, was called as a witness by plaintiff and he testified regarding the making of the contract on or about January 22, 1958. Thereupon (on February 26, 1960) the judge said that judgment would be for plaintiff as prayed for. Judgment was