Reves v. Hillmer

Michigan Supreme Court
Reves v. Hillmer, 239 N.W. 328 (Mich. 1931)
256 Mich. 239; 1931 Mich. LEXIS 1058
Clark, Butzel, Wiest, McDonald, Potter, Sharpe, North, Fead

Reves v. Hillmer

Opinion of the Court

Clark, J.

The bill was filed to set aside a judgment as void for want of jurisdiction of the person, no service of process, and to enjoin execution thereon. Plaintiff had decree. Defendant has appealed.

The law action was in justice’s court. The officer’s return of service is that he served the summons personally on the defendant Reves, plaintiff here.

In the trial of the case before us', plaintiff testified that he was not served with the summons. Another witness named Harris testified that the officer served the summons on him under the mistaken belief or assertion that he was Reves. Defendant stood on the officer’s return and offered no testimony.

Cases cited by appellant to the effect that the return of the officer,, is not open to collateral attack are not in point. This is a direct attack.

, Granting that more convincing proof must be submitted by one attacking the validity of a judgment *241 by impeaching the officer’s return than is ordinarily required in civil cases (Garey v. Morley Brothers, 234 Mich. 675), the evidence here is not disputed, and it is convincing.

The decree must be affirmed, with costs to plaintiff.

Butzel, C. J., and Wiest, McDonald, Potter, Sharpe, North, and Fead, JJ., concurred.

Reference

Full Case Name
Reves v. Hillmer.
Status
Published