South Dakota Employers' Protective Ass'n v. Hirning
South Dakota Employers' Protective Ass'n v. Hirning
Opinion of the Court
Respondent was the owner and holder oí a certificate of deposit for $1,000, which the superintendent of banks refused to certify to the guaranty fund- commission as provided by section 9020, R. C. 1919. Respondent procured an alternative writ of mandamus to compel compliance with such section, and upon return to the alternative writ defendants moved to quash the writ upon four grounds: First, that the proceeding is a suit against the state, to the prosecution of which the state has not consented; second, that the circuit courtis not vested with jurisdiction in any suit against the state; third, that the supervision, control, management, and administration of the depositors’ guar
Appellants at the time of the proceedings in the circuit court were state officers. Hiirning was superintendent of banks, and he with the other appellants were members of the depositors’ guaranty fund commission. No reason is assigned for the refusal to certify the claim, the superintendent taking the position that the courts have no control over his actions in this respect.
All of the questions here presented are answered in the case of First National Bank v. Hirning, 48 S'. D. 417, 204 N. W. 901. In that case we held that mandamus to compel the superintendent of banks and the commission to certify and pay claims against the guaranty fund was not a suit against the state, but inasmuch as we did not review the authorities relied upon by appellant nor cite other authorities in support of our holding, we discuss the questions here. In the case of White Eagle Oil & Refining Co. v. Gunderson et al, 48 S. D. 608, 205 N. W. 614, we summarized what may be considered suits against.the state as follows:
“Those cases: in which the decrees require, by affirmative official action on the part of the defendants, the performance of an obligation which belongs to the state in its political capacity, are suits against the state.”
Therefore if the obligation sought to be enforced be an obligation of the state, or if the fund belongs to the state, then the court has no jurisdiction to compel payment, otherwise the mere fact that the defendants are state officers does not deprive the court of jurisdiction.
We think it is plain that the state has not obligated itself to pay plaintiff, nor is there anything in the law to indicate the state
The other question as to- the power of the court to- control the action of the- superintendent of banks by mandamus, because his duty may require the exercise of discretion and quasi judicial power, is answered in First National Bank v. Hirning, supra, where the character of his acts is analyzed and the conditions; under which he may not refuse to certify a claim against the depositors’ guaranty fund are fully considered.
The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SOUTH DAKOTA EMPLOYERS' PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION v. HIRNING
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- Published