City of North Lawrence v. Hoysradt

The opinion of the court was delivered by Sarrord, J.: i. practice, Original action . or prosecuted6^ Sgs1 £ «“or. This was a petition in error, brought in the district court to reverse the judgment of a justice of the peace. Connected with such petition in x x error, or rather in the same petition there was an attempt to unite and prosecute a separate and distinct original cause of action. This in our opinion is not allowable. The remedy by petition in error— [173] all of the advantages of which were adopted and secured by the party bringing it in this case, is one thing; while that in the nature of an equitable proceeding to obtain relief, on the grounds insisted on below, is quite another. As a consequence of their essential differences, the joining of the two in the same petition would be likely to result in confusion, such as would in many cases be calculated to retard, if not to defeat the ends of justice. Vexed and difficult questions as to practice, or otherwise, would arise, all of which might be avoided by a different mode of procedure. 2. Jurisdiction; pornuoEfap0-1' without process, II. We are of the opinion that none of the questions which are argued by counsel for the plaintiff in error are properly before us for our decision, excepting such as arise upon that part of the case below which referred to the alleged error of the justice in taking jurisdiction of, and trying the cause, as it is shown he did. The defendant was a municipal corporation,existing under and being governed by the provisions of the statute relating to cities of the second class; Ch. 19, Gen. Stat., 1868. The record shows that no service of summons was made or attempted to be made upon the city in the said suit, but that instead thereof the mayor, in his official capacity/voluntarily entered an appearance in that behalf, intending thereby to obviate the necessity of any other or further service. Was such action on the part of the mayor authorized by law, and sufficient to bind the city ? We think that the answer to this inquiry must be in the affirmative. “ Actions before justices of the peace are commenced by summons, or by appearance and agreement of the parties, without summons.” “A summons against a corporation may be served upon the president, mayor,” etc. Gen. St, 1868, [174] ch. 81, §§ 9, 18. See also, § 7, ch. 19, same statutes, the provisions of which should be construed in connection with those of said § 13, and so that there may be no conflict between them. Now, whether summons is served upon the mayor of a city, and such city is thereby duly brought into court as authorized by the sections last above quoted, or whether such mayor in his official capacity goes into court and makes an appearance for the city, as it would seem might be done under said section nine, and thereby binds the city, the result is, and cannot be otherwise than practically the same. The city is in court, either by and through the service of process made upon, or by the official, voluntary act of the same officer, according as the one course or the other be followed. What difference or disadvantage then can result to the city from the employment of the one way, or the other, of getting her into court ? The notice to the city is certainly no more effective by the service of summons, regularly issued, than it is if such summons be waived and an appearance be entered by the officer upon whom such service would otherwise be made; nor would the court be better advised as to the fact of notice having been given in the former case, than he would be in the latter. But it is contended, that if it be held that the mayor could enter an appearance for the city without any summons having been served, it follows that the same power in case of bis absence rests with the president of the council, and so down to any person in charge of the office where the business of the city may be transacted, provided all of the officers previously mentioned in said section thirteen, as those upon whom service to bind the city can be made, should prove to be absent, and not to be found. Such a position may be correct to a certain extent; but it. [175] cannot be maintained under either of. the sections referred to as to the person in charge of the office, etc. The effect of the language used is not that in case of the absence of every other officer mentioned, the service may be made upon the person in charge, etc., but in such case it is merely provided that a copy of the summons shall be left with him; and for what purpose, if not, as one would naturally infer, that such copy should, or might be delivered to some of the officers of the city upon whom service could be made ? This act of leaving a copy of the summons with the person in charge, etc., is-nothing more than a technical .service upon the officer (as such, and as representing the city for the purpose of service,) at whose place of business it is left: and it seems idle to say, that because of the single fact that such copy may be so left, it would for that reason follow that the person in charge, etc., would be empowered to do-and perform the same acts in the premises as might be done by the mayor or such other officer as it is specifically provided may be served with summons, so as to bind the city. But it is further contended, that the provision of said section nine of said chapter 81, which authorizes the commencement of suits by appearance and the agreement of the parties, and without summons, is limited in its action to those parties to actions who are able to' and do actually appear in their own proper persons, and in their own behalf, and does not extend the right'to parties who must of necessity appear by a representative. We do not see the wisdom, or practical utility of such a narrow construction; nor do we think that a more liberal one would be productive of mischief. The connection in which the word “parties”-is used, in said section, does not necessarily require that it shall be confined to, and [176] mean only tbe parties to tbe action in tbe sense of plaintiffs and defendants, but on tbe other band, seems to admit of tbe more enlarged construction that it may be held to include those who are, or may be parties to the summons as well, or upon whom such summons may be served. To this view there seems to be no sound objection. Said section nine was no doubt enacted with a view of providing a way by which parties might save tbe costs of summons, service thereof, etc. For this reason tbe right thereby conferred is of considerable value to litigants; and no good reason is suggested why a municipal corporation should be deprived of its benefits. The judgment of the district court is affirmed. All the Justices concurring.