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26 Del. 116

McMullin v. Beck

Superior Court of Delaware

Decided June 2, 1911

Superior Court of Delaware · decided 1911-06-02

from a judgment of a justice of the peace. The plaintiff brought his action before the justice against the defendant for one hundred and seventy-three dollars and twenty-two cents, balance alleged to be due on a contract or agreement entered into with the defendant for cutting and sawing lumber, railroad ties, fence posts, and cord wood.

Decided 1911-06-02

Boyce, J.,

¶1delivering the opinion of the court:

¶2We recognize that in this court the use of the praecipe prevails. The office and effect of the praecipe in this court is not before us, and we express no opinion in relation thereto.

¶3*118The question now before us is whether a praecipe filed before a justice of the peace commanding that a summons or attachment issue is the commencement of an action such as will arrest the operation of the act of limitations.

¶4The justice’s court is a court of special and limited jurisdiction. It is without terms or rules and we know of no practice prevailing in a justice’s court for the use of the praecipe in bringing an action.

¶5The statute giving jurisdiction to justices of the peace in civil actions provides for two kinds of process; one is by summons and the other by attachment. Whether a person desiring to bring an action before a justice shall demand a summons or attachment orally or in writing, we think the action is not begun until the process is actually issued by the justice. It is not the order for the summons or attachment, but the issuance thereof, in a justice’s court, that operates in arresting the act of limitations. In this case, the summons not having issued until the second day of June, 1910, more than three years from the time the cause of action accrued, to wit, twenty-fourth day of May, 1910, the act of limitations had run before the action was brought. And the act of limitations having been pleaded, the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this action, and the request of the defendant for binding instructions in favor of the defendant should be granted.

¶6Gentlemen of the jury, you are directed to return a verdict for the defendant.

¶7Verdict for defendant.

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