John G. Mehnert, et al., v. Theresa Thieme, Admx, &c.

Kansas Supreme Court1875-07

15 Kan. 368

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court affirmed the judgment, holding that the defendants' failure to appear at trial was not excused by accident or unavoidable misfortune because Mehnert, acting as his own attorney, had full knowledge of the distance to court and the winter road conditions and failed to take ordinary precautions to ensure his attendance.

Mehnert and a co-defendant were sued on a promissory note. Mehnert filed an answer claiming partial payment and asserting that a mortgage given after the note matured had not yet come due. Neither defendant appeared at trial, and judgment was entered against them for the full note amount plus interest. The defendants moved to vacate the judgment and obtain a new trial, claiming they were prevented from defending by accident and unavoidable misfortune beyond ordinary prudence. Mehnert's affidavit explained that he lived twelve miles from the courthouse and had to manage livestock alone, so he rose early and drove with all speed over bad December roads, but arrived ten minutes after his case had been called and decided.

The court rejected the motion, finding that the circumstances did not constitute excusable accident or misfortune. The court noted that bad country roads were common in December and not unexpected, and Mehnert had full knowledge of both the road conditions and his distance from court. The opinion emphasized that when a person acts as their own attorney in an active case, they assume the duties and responsibilities of that role and must take ordinary precautions to be present during court sessions. The court concluded that Mehnert's failure to attend resulted from his choice to manage both his farm and his lawsuit simultaneously, rather than from circumstances beyond ordinary prudence.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether bad road conditions constitute excusable accident or unavoidable misfortune
Duties and standards of care for a party acting as their own attorney
Whether ordinary prudence required the defendant to make arrangements to ensure court attendance

Procedural posture

The defendants appealed from the trial court's denial of their motion to vacate the judgment and grant a new trial.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Brewer, J.:

The plaintiffs in error were sued upon a promissory note. Mehnert filed an answer in person, alleging part payment to the amount of $166.10, and that after the maturity of the note he and his co-defendant had given a mortgage due in twelve months as security, and that this time had not passed. They made no appearance at the trial, and judgment was rendered for the face of the note and interest. On the same day they, by an attorney, filed a motion to vacate the judgment, and grant them a new trial, on the ground that they were prevented from making their defense by “accident, which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against, and unavoidable misfortune.” This motion was overruled, and this is the error complained of. Mehnert’s affidavit was the only testimony offered upon said motion. He testified that he filed th§ answer, and that it was true, that he lived twelve miles from Fort Scott, where the court was in session; that he had a large amount of stock, and no male help on his place, and was consequently obliged to be home every night; that in order to be present in court in time on that morning he rose between three and four o’clock, attended to his home duties, and started with his team for Fort Scott between five and six o’clock, drove with all possible dispatch, and made no stoppages on the road; that he reached the court-house about ten o’clock, and found that the case had been called and disposed of a few. minutes prior thereto; that the delay in driving in was caused by the bad and almost impassable condition of the roads. Was this accident which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against, or unavoidable misfortune? It does not appear that the roads were for that season of the year, December, exceptionably bad, or that by an unexpected change in the weather they had become suddenly bad, or that Mehnert did not by frequent travel have full knowledge of their actual condition. At that time, it is no uncommon thing for country roads to be very rough, and in very bad condition. Common prudence would dictate that one who was acting as an attorney, and attending to business in court then in session, should not run the risk of getting into court in the morning over such roads from a remote part of the county. The real difficulty was, that Mehnert was attempting to perform the double part of suitor and attorney. While this is perfectly proper, yet whoever attempts it subjects himself to the obligations and liabilities of both. It is the duty of an attorney having business in court to be present during its sessions. There is his business; there is his work. Oftentimes that which will excuse the absence of a suitor, will come far. short of excusing the absence of his attorney. Now, Mehnert was acting as an attorney, intrusted with business in the court then in session. Instead of employing some one to take care of his stock on -his farm, and being himself in readiness to attend to his case, he is with full knowledge of his great distance from the court-house, and the almost impassable condition of the roads, attempting to take care of both stock and lawsuit. He succeeded in the former, but failed in the latter, and failed simply from omitting the ordinary precautions which men take under similar circumstances. Hill v. Williams, 6 Kas. 17.

The judgment will be affirmed.

All the Justices concurring.