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101 Mich. 387

Thomas v. Hamilton

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided July 5, 1894

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1894-07-05

(Buck, J.) Relator applied to the circuit court for mandamus to compel respondent, a druggist, to allow relator to examine the book containing a record of sales of liquor. Respondent brings certiorari to review an order granting the writ. The facts are stated in the opinion.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently December 1907

1 state decisions

Relies on People ex rel. Drake v. Regents of the University

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Reversed · Decided 1894-07-05

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McGrath, C. J.

¶1Section 3 of Act No. 313, Laws of 1887, requires each dealer in drugs and medicines to keep a book, in which shall be recorded the names of all persons applying for liquor, the amount and kind of liquor sold to such person, and the purpose to which the same was to be applied, which book is required to be open for examination to all persons during business hours. Relator alleges that respondent is a dealer in drugs and medicines, .that he refused to allow relator to examine such book, and asks for a mandamus to compel respondent to allow such examination.

¶2The general rule is that mandamus will not run against a private individual. Merrill, Mand. §§ 13, 21-23. Nor does it lie to enforce the performance of a public duty at the instance of a private individual, or in any case unless he has some private or particular interest to be subserved, or some particular right to be preserved or protected, by such process, independent of that which he holds in common with the public at large. People v. Regents of the University, 4 Mich. 98; People v. Inspectors and Agent of State Prison, 4 Id. 187; People v. Green, 29 Id. 121; Smith v. City of Saginaw, 81 Id. 123.

¶3The judgment must therefore be reversed, with costs of both courts.

Long, Grant, and Hooker, JJ., concurred. Montgomery, J., did not .sit.
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