Evans v. Calman

Grant, J. The defendants Calman and Carlbauch recovered a judgment in justice’s court against the complainant and John S. Evans, and obtained a transcript of the judgment, which they filed with the clerk of the circuit court. Upon this transcript execution was issued, and levy made by defendant Merritt, the sheriff, and the land advertised for sale. The land was purchased by complainant and her daughter, each owning an undivided one-half interest. This bill is filed to set aside that levy as a cloud upon complainant’s title. Decree was entered dismissing the bill. The grounds upon which relief is sought are as follows, viz.: 1. The judgment is void for want of jurisdiction of the justice to render it, because (a) the return of the officer who served the summons shows that it was served March 3, 1886, instead of March 3, 1888; (5) the justice’s docket does not contain the date of the appearance of plaintiffs by their attorney, nor the date of rendering judgment. 2. The levy was made after the return-day of the execution. 3. The judgment was upon a note signed by complainant and her husband, the consideration of which was not for her individual benefit or estate. 4. The property was intended for.a homestead, and is therefore exempt. 1. The mistake of date in the return of the officer corrects itself. The summons was issued March 2, 1888, returnable March 10, 1888. The defendant was not, therefore, misled by the officer’s return. The date mentioned in the return was an impossible one, and no possible doubt could exist but that the date should be .1888, instead of 1886. Johnson v. Shepard, 35 Mich. 121. The justice’s docket clearly shows that the date of the appearance of plaintiffs’ attorney and the date of render [430] ing judgment was March 10, under which date all these statements are made. 2. The levy was not made after the return-day of the execution, as appeal’s by the record. The execution was issued July 20, 1889; levy was made July 23 of the same year; notice of sale was given June 17, 1890, which notice contained the identical description in the notice of levy. Another levy appears to have been made January 6, 1890, but the description of the land is not the same as in the first notice. Had the sheriff proceeded under the second levy, the proceedings would be void. 3. The defendant was served with the summons, and having failed to make her defense then, as was her duty, she cannot now be heard in a court of equity. Wilson v. Coolidge, 42 Mich. 112. 4. The evidence does not sustain complainant’s claim of a homestead. She and her husband were living elsewhere. There were two houses upon the property, both of which were rented. The property had been for some time in a condition for occupancy. She cannot now change its character by saying that she intended at some future time to occupy it as a home. Decree affirmed, with costs. The other Justices concurred.