Pruitt v. Taylor

Our statute, G.S. 1-226, provides: “The relief granted to the plaintiff, if there is no answer, cannot exceed that demanded in his complaint . . .”

A default judgment rendered contrary to this statutory provision for an amount in excess of the damages alleged and the sum prayed for in the complaint is irregular. Simms v. Sampson, 221 N.C. 379, 20 S.E. 2d 554; Land Bank v. Davis, 215 N.C. 100, 1 S.E. 2d 350; Burrowes v. Burrowes, 210 N.C. 788, 188 S.E. 648; Smith v. Travelers Protective Assoc., 200 N.C. 740, 158 S.E. 402; White v. Snow, 71 N.C. 232.

An irregular judgment is one rendered contrary…