Laidlaw v. Morrow

¶1Mrs. Morrow was indebted to one Hancock in the sum of $109 for goods sold and delivered, and Laidlaw, claiming to have acquired the demand by assignment from Hancock, sued Mrs. Morrow therefor. She resisted on the ground that she had been garnished by two of Hancock’s creditors and had been compelled in those proceedings to pay the demand on their claims. The circuit judge allowed this defense, and the main question relates to its validity.

¶2The principal cases directly against Hancock and the cases of garnishment incidental to them were before a justice of the peace, and the recorded proceedings in all were adduced in evidence on the trial of this action. The service on Hancock in the principal cases was by leaving a copy of the summons at defendant’s last place of abode, and there was no other process or service and he never made appearance. On the return day and on the strength of this service the justice proceeded to hear the cases, and immediately rendered judgments against Hancock. ■

¶3*549The summons in garnishment were returnable on the same day as those in the main cases, December 27, 1879 ; and the only evidence of service was a written admission to which was subscribed the name of Mrs. Morrow. She did not appear before the justice, but on being called on at her place of business by the attorney for the plaintiff she there subscribed and made oath to a disclosure which the attorney filed with the justice. She acknowledged in this paper that she was indebted to Hancock in the sum of $113 at the time she was served with process.

¶4A summons to show cause in each case was then issued, returnable December 30th, and the only evidence of service was a written admission bearing her name. She did not appear and no evidence was offered to prove the genuineness of the signature attached to the admission. The usual declarations were made, and thereupon the justice rendered judgment against her on the admission in the disclosure. She never took any objection to the proceedings, and on the 7th of January following the justice issued execution, and Mrs. Morrow on demand by the constable paid the debt to him.

¶5Whether the proceedings in the garnishee suits proper might not be upheld in favor of the garnishee against this collateral attack need not be • considered. The court would struggle to save a garnishee acting fairly and in good faith from paying a debt twice.

¶6The law which regulates this proceeding contains many defects, and not the least among them is the want of suitable express provisions for guarding and protecting the rights of garnishees in respect to interests belonging to or claimed by parties other than the garnishee debtor, and for guarding and protecting the rights of parties claiming adversely to the various parties litigating. The act concerning this remedy in courts of record contains a provision bearing on this subject (Comp. L. § 6492), but it is quite partial and imperfect. Hut those courts from their inherent authority to make rules and apply their power to prevent injustice may to some extent perhaps, supply omissions and ward off mischiefs. The law applicable to justices’ courts has no such provi*550sion, and from their constitution and limited authority those tribunals are incapable of any such discretionary power.

¶7In the present case a difficulty appears which cannot be surmounted. The judgments against Hancock, the principal debtor, were void upon their face. They were given on the return of summons served by copy left at defendant’s abode, and without any appearance. For the purpose of jurisdiction to render judgment there was no service at all, and there being no appearance, the right depended on service and that exclusively. §§ 5262, 5263, 5350.

¶8The cases against Hancock became discontinued, and the plaintiffs therein have never become his judgment creditors. This appeared on the face of the docket when Mrs. Morrow-allowed the proceedings to go on against her and without objection. In permitting' this and in subsequently paying the demand she acted at her peril. The law denies jurisdiction to the' justice to give judgment against the garnishee when the principal suit has become discontinued and the plaintiff has not become judgment creditor of the principal defendant. There is then no basis for the further prosecution of the case in garnishment. It is only incident to the main case and it must fall when that falls. § 6449.

¶9No further consideration is necessary. The judgment must be reversed with costs and a new trial granted.

¶10No valid judgment can be rendered in justice’s court against a garnishee defendant until after a judgment has been rendered against the principal defendant in a cause wherein the justice had jurisdiction. 2 Comp. L. §§ 6446-6449; McCloskey v. Judge of Wayne Circuit Court 26 Mich. 100.

¶11In the principal cases the justice acquired no jurisdiction over the defendant, there being no appearance, because of a defective service of process, as appeared by the return of the *551officer. Tbe return, a copy of wliicb is given in the margin,* does not show that Howell was one of the family, or that the copy was left at the defendant’s last place of abode, in the presence of some one of the family as the statute requires. § 5262. It may be, had sufficient facts been set forth in the return, that Howell was one of the family within the meaning of the statute, but this we cannot presume.

¶12The judgment must be reversed with costs and a new trial ordered.

The defendant not being found, I served the within summons on the twentieth day of-December, A. D. 1879, at the city of Detroit, within the said county, by leaving a copy thereof at the defendant’s last place of abode, with C. P. Howell, a person of suitable age and discretion, who was informed by me of the contents.

W. W. Witherspoon, Constable.