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48 Ind. 129

Huston v. Whitsell

Indiana Supreme Court

Decided November 15, 1874

Indiana Supreme Court · decided 1874-11-15

<p>Pleading.—Prayer for Judgment.—A prayer for a judgment for money is a sufficient prayer for a judgment for its collection without relief from valuation and appraisement laws, if such mode of collection be warranted by the facts alleged in the complaint.</p>

Decided 1874-11-15

Wobhen, J.

¶1This was an action by the appellee against the appellant, on two promissory notes waiving the benefit of valuation and appraisement laws.

¶2Judgment by default for the amount due on the notes, to be collected without appraisement.

¶3There was an ordinary prayer in the complaint for judgment for two hundred and fifty dollars. This is more than the amount for which judgment was rendered.

¶4There was no special prayer for judgment without relief, etc.

¶5It is objected that as there was no special prayer for judgment without relief, and as the judgment was rendered by default and without the appearance of the defendant, the judgment rendered without relief is erroneous.

¶6This proposition is based upon the provision in the statute* *130that “ the relief granted to the plaintiff, if there be no answer,, cannot exceed the relief demanded in his complaint.” 2 G. & H. 220, sec. 380.

¶7We are of opinion, however, that a prayer for a judgment for money is a sufficient prayer for a judgment for its collection in the mode warranted by the facts alleged in the complaint. The relief granted did not exceed that prayed for. Both the prayer and the judgment were for the money.

¶8The order for the collection of the money without appraisement was only an incident to the judgment, intended to facilitate its collection. When the money is collected in accordance with the judgment and paid to the plaintiff, he will have-only what he prayed to have adjudged to him.

¶9There is no error in the record.

¶10The judgment below is affirmed, with costs.

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