Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

52 Iowa 62

Lawrence v. Howell

Supreme Court of Iowa

Decided October 9, 1879

Supreme Court of Iowa · decided 1879-10-09

The judgment was rendered in the court below for $140 in an action of replevin brought by this defendant against Lawrence, tire plaintiff in this action, and one Randall to re23levy an organ. Lawrence had allowed Randall to leave the organ in his'barn. Afterward Randall removed it, Lawrence at no time claiming any interest in it.

Decided 1879-10-09

Adams, J.

¶1Section 2870 of the Code provides that “where no appearance is made default shall not be had until the court determines from an inspection of the record that notice has been given as required by the Code.” '

¶2The record referred to must be a return of service. It is insisted, therefore, that a return of service is jurisdictional because there can be no determination' from an inspection of a record which has no existence. The position is certainly plausible, but where service is actually made, it appears to us that jurisdiction is acquired so far as the person is concerned. The provision that default shall not be had until the court determines from an inspection of the record that notice has been given, is, we think, merely directory. It follows that the irregularity complained of did not have the effect to render the judgment void.

¶3There being some evidence that service was actually made, the judgment must be

¶4Affirmed.

/52/iowa/62 · .json · Public domain