Death v. Bank of Pittsburg
Death v. Bank of Pittsburg
Opinion of the Court
The question raised by the demurrer, and presented by the argument, for our determination, is this: Was the service upon Grimes, one of the attorneys of the bank, in procuring and collecting her judgment, sufficient to give the court jurisdiction of the person in the first injunction proceedings, so as to authorize the rendition of the decree, and to conclude the parties thereto ?
In favor of the answer, it is claimed, that the duties of the attorney ceased so soon as the judgment had been obtained;
It is conceded, that in ordinary actions or proceedings, ■such service would not be sufficient to give the court jurisdiction. Ordinarily, there must be a personal service, and the party thus be given a full opportunity to have his day in court, before he would be bound. The complainants claim, however, that the injunction proceedings to stay a judgment, is not an original writ, and that, therefore, this general rule does not apply. In this, we think, they are correct. The bill, it is true, is in the nature of an original one; but the matter which is the foundation of the litigation, is already before the court ^ and this is but a cross litigation, in order to controvert, suspend, avoid, or finally enjoin, such proceeding on the judgment which may havé been rendered. It is but an order issuing from the equity ■side of the court, to stay proceedings on the common law side, oil the ground that it would be unjust, and against equity and good conscience, to enforce it. Cooper, Eq. PL 44, 45.
Treating it in this light, the English chancery practice, where the party seeking to enforce the judgment at law, is
We think, however, that the reason of the rule did not obtain, under the statute in force at the time this writ was served, and that, therefore, the rule itself ceased. Under our practice, then as well as now, as a general thing, the injunction is ordered on an ex parte application. When issued •■and served on the officer having the execution, it operates to stay the same. In this method, the injustice which was about to be perpetrated, is suspended; .and"if the plaintiff at law wishes to proceed with his collection, he can appear, and on proper showing, have the injunction dissolved. And farther, the complainant, after such suspension, in order to prosecute, as is his duty, his claim to a perpetual injunction, has a plain method, by which to bring the non-resident into ■court. By the Rev. Stat. 108, §§ 9 and 12, a non-resident defendant in chancery proceedings, might be notified by publication in some newspaper, and when thus notified, as well -as when served personally, he was treated as in court, and
There was, then, a method of bringing the party into court, without resorting to the practice of ordering substituted service. This method, we think, meets the spirit, and obviates the necessity, of the English practice. This is the view taken by the courts of New York, under a similar statute, with regard to publication of notice; and we think it in accordance with correct practice, and the general rule as to service and notice. 1 Barb. Chan. Prac, 53.
So regarding, we think the court correctly overruled the demurrer. Service upon the attorney, was not such service upon the party, as to give the court jurisdiction to order a perpetual injunction.
Order overruling the demurrer, affirmed.
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