Williams v. Johnson

DIGGES, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. On July 20, 1966 the appellees Dr. and Mrs. James L. Johnson advanced $5,000 to Franklin T. Williams who acknowledged the debt in the form of a confessed judgment note payable on demand. Mr. Williams signed the document in the doctor’s presence and assured him that the other signature which appeared on the note was that of his wife, Florence H. Williams, the present appellant. On July 23, 1969, before demand or repayment Mr. Williams died, apparently leaving few worldly goods and a number of disappointed creditors.

On September 18, 1969 judgment by confession was entered on the note and summons was issued to the appellant pursuant to rule 645 b indicating that she would be entitled to show cause within thirty days “why the judgment should be vacated, opened or modified.” The rule also provides that an application to show cause “shall be promptly heard . . . and such action taken as justice may require.” Mrs. Williams immediately filed an answer in which she alleged under oath that “she did not promise as alleged” and “the note filed in these proceedings was never executed by her or was it executed by anyone else in her behalf by any authority written or implied.” 1 After the evidentiary hearing on Mrs. Williams’ responsibility under the note the ⁴⁶⁶ Circuit Court for Cecil County (Mackey, J.) directed that judgment be entered in favor of the doctor and Ms wife. Appellees suggest that this proceeding before Judge Mackey was a trial on the merits and not a hearing pursuant to Rule 645 b for the purpose of ascertaining whether the confessed judgment should be vacated, opened or modified. Their rationale for making this disturbing observation is based on custom. They claim that once an answer is filed in response to a confessed judgment summons the customary procedure in Cecil County is to try the case on its merits without vacating or opening the judgment.

If, in fact, this is the common practice it is contrary to Rule 645 b, which specifically states in part: “If the judgment is opened or set aside, the case shall stand for trial in accordance with the rules of the court.” (Emphasis added.) Since the judgment remained undisturbed there could not have been a trial on the merits. We must therefore conclude that the only purpose for having the evidentiary hearing on the issue of forgery and its consequences was to determine whether there was a sufficient basis to open the judgment. To be successful in this endeavor “one must adduce evidence in support of his motion sufficient to persuade the fair and reasoned judgment of an ordinary man that there are substantial and sufficient grounds for an actual controversy as to the merits of the case. If he does so, he is deemed to have met the burden of showing he has a meritorious defense, without the necessity of showing he will eventually prevail.

This is to say that if the evidence is such that persons of ordinary judgment and prudence could fairly draw different inferénces from it, the controversy should not be decided as a matter of law but instead should be submitted to a trier of fact. If a meritorious defense is made out (by affidavits or testimony, John ⁴⁶⁷ son v. Phillips, . . [ 148 Md. 16 , 122 A. 7 (1923) ]), the Court should liberally exercise its equitable jurisdiction over judgments entered by confession and, on application of a defendant who prima facie shows such defense, vacate the judgment to permit a trial on the merits. Cropper v. Graves, 216 Md. 229 ; Remsburg v. Baker, 212 Md. 465, 470 ; Keiner v. Commerce Trust Co., 154 Md. 366, 370-371 .” Stankovich v. Lehman, 230 Md. 426, 432 , 137 A. 2d 309 (1963). We need not set forth Mrs. Williams5 testimony In detail to exhibit that these prerequisites have been satisfied.

Judge Mackey's summary of the testimony will suffice: “The developed facts are that Dr. Johnson advanced $5,000 cash to Mr. Williams on July 21, 1966 in exchange for a demand note in that amount dated the same day and signed by Mr. Williams in the presence of Dr. Johnson and purportedly bearing the signature of Mrs. Williams. Three years later Mr. Williams died without any payment having been made or demand having been made for payment. Following Ms death Dr. Johnson brought this suit and Mrs. Williams testified this morning that she then became aware of the existence of tMs note for the first time. In her testimony she presumes that the $5,OOO went into Mr. Williames business.

She is rather certain that it did not go for living expenses." Appellant also testified, rather emphatically, that the signature on the note was not hers and reiterated that she had received no known benefit from the loan. The Uniform Commercial