In all actions upon accounts, an itemized statement of the account, verified by the affidavit of a competent witness, taken before and certified by, a notary public or any officer having authority under the laws of this or another state to take and certify affidavits, is competent evidence of the correctness of the account if the plaintiff, at the time of bringing his action, files with his complaint such verified itemized statement and endorses on the complaint the fact that the account is verified by affidavit. Unless the defendant, within the time allowed him for pleading, files in the case an affidavit denying on information and belief the correctness of the account, which affidavit of the defendant shall state whether or not the defendant denies liability and whether or not he disputes the whole account or only a part or parts or an item or items thereof (if defendant disputes only a part or parts or an item or items of the account and not the whole account, he shall state in such affidavit what parts or items are disputed by him), the verified account so filed and noted by the plaintiff shall be competent evidence of the correctness of all parts and items of the account not disputed by defendant's affidavit. Any person who files a denial of the correctness of the verified account and thereby causes delay or a continuance of the case, when, on final hearing of the case, the judge of the court does not believe that the denial affidavit was made in good faith, shall be penalized in a sum not exceeding five percent of the amount of the judgment recovered, which sum shall be added to and become a part of the judgment. The presence on the affidavit of the seal of the officer purporting to take such affidavit shall be prima facie evidence of the fact that it was affixed thereto by such officer.
Last modified: May 3, 2021