Pleading — Sham and Irrelevant Answer.
A sham answer is false in fact; an irrelevant or frivolous one has no substantial relation to the controversy and presents no defence to the action, though its contents may be true. The order to strike out the answer in this case is affirmed.
(115) ASHE, J., after stating the above.
Sham and irrelevant answers and defences may be stricken out on motion, and upon such terms as the court may in its discretion impose. C., C., P., Sec. 104. A sham answer is one that is false in fact; an irrelevant answer is one which has no substantial relation to the controversy between the parties to the action; and an answer is frivolous when, assuming its contents to be true, it presents no defence to the action. Bliss on Code Pleading, 507, and note.
It would seem from the definitions, that the distinction between an irrelevant and frivolous answer is virtually without a difference, and that they may be considered as correlative terms.
Assuming then all the allegation of the defendants' answer to be true, there is not one of them that constitutes a substantial defence to the action, and the answer is therefore frivolous, and should have been stricken out and judgment given as far the want of an answer.
But we might very well have put our decision on this appeal upon another ground, which is, that there is no error assigned by the defendants and as none appears on the record, the judgment of the court below should be affirmed. Swepson v. Summey, 74 N.C. 551.
No error. Affirmed.
Cited: Weil v. Uzzell, 92 N.C. 517; Council v. Dickerson's Inc., 233 N.C. 474.