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39 Mich. 573

Slattery v. Hilliker

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided October 31, 1878

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1878-10-31

<p>Service — Plea to the merits.</p> <p>A defendant appeared and pleaded to the merits. The constable then amended his return so as to show that the service was had. Defendant did not ask leave to withdraw his plea, hut moved to dismiss, and his motion was properly denied, as his pleading to the merits raised an issue and made the question o£ service of-no importance.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1891

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1878-10-31

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Cooley, J.

¶1This case • originated in justice’s court. The return of the constable to the process which commenced it, showed due service. The defendant appeared on the return day and pleaded to the merits. Subsequently the constable was permitted by the justice to amend his return, and he made such an amendment as *574showed the service to have been insufficient. The defendant thereupon moved to dismiss the cause, which motion was denied. The denial of this motion is the error now relied upon.

¶2When the motion to dismiss was made, there was an issue on the merits, and no motion was made by defendant for leave to withdraw his plea. At that stage of the case it was of no importance whether the writ was or was not properly served. Stone v. Welling, 14 Mich., 514; Falkner v. Beers, 2 Doug. (Mich.), 117.

¶3The judgment must be affirmed with costs.

The other Justices concurred.
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