Joiner v. Delta Bank

Mississippi Supreme Court
Joiner v. Delta Bank, 71 Miss. 382 (Miss. 1893)
Campbell

Joiner v. Delta Bank

Opinion of the Court

Campbell, C. J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The summon^ issued during the term of court, and returnable instanter, was a nullity, and did not confer jurisdiction on the court by virtue of its service. It was not amendable by virtue of § 2286 of the code of 1880, for it was not conformable to law in its command. If it had been returnable *385as required by law — § 1525, code of 1880 — and any matter required to be inserted was omitted, it would have been amendable; but it was, in its frame and purpose, violative of law, and good for nothing — without form and void as a summons — and the person served was under no obligation to pay any attention to it, and had the right to have it vacated at any time on petition or motion; and it was so good for nothing as to be subject to collateral attack by anybody whenever it was brought into question. There must be an effort to conform to law to entitle to the claim of mere irregularity in process.

The judgment refusing to vacate the judgment will be reversed, and, in pursuance of the long settled practice of this court, without any statute, the appellant will be held to be in court as a party to the suit for such further proceedings as may be had in the pending cause.

Reversed and remanded,.

Reference

Full Case Name
P. S. Joiner, Administrator v. Delta Bank
Cited By
8 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Void Summons. Returnable instanter. Judgment vacated. A summons issued during a term of court, returnable instanter, is a nullity, and, notwithstanding it is properly served, a judgment based thereon, though not taken until the next term, is void, and may be vacated on motion. So held in respect to a summons for the representative of a deceased defendant, and where the judgment recited due and legal service of summons. ■ 2. Same. Void summons; not amendable. Code 1880, § 2286. Such summons, not being returnable as required by law, is not amendable under §2286, code 1880, authorizing an amendment where any thing required to be inserted in or indorsed upon process is omitted. 8. Supreme Court. Reversal. Appearance. Further proceedings. On appeal from a judgment void for want of legal summons, the court will reverse and remand, but the defendant will be held to be in court for further proceedings.