Fischer v. Munsey Trust Co.
Fischer v. Munsey Trust Co.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court':'
In this jurisdiction the practice is firmly established, where the question of service may be determined as matter of law, to raise it by motion to quash. Ricketts v. Sun Printing & Pub. Asso. 27 App. D. C. 222; Ferguson Contracting Co. v. Coal & Coke R. Co. 33 App. D. C. 159; Toledo Computing Scale Co.
As our conclusion necessitates further proceedings, perhaps we should say that, in our view, if the allegations of appellant are found to be true, the service should be quashed. “If a person is induced by false representations to come within the jurisdiction of á court for the purpose of obtaining service of process upon him, and process is there served, it is such an abuse that the court will, on motion, set the process aside.” Fitzgerald & M. Constr. Co. v. Fitzgerald, 137 U. S. 98, 105, 34 L. ed. 608, 611, 11 Sup. Ct. Rep. 36. See also: Frawley v. Pennsylvania Casualty Co. 124 Fed. 259; Cavanagh v. Manhattan Transit Co. 133 Fed. 818; Toof v. Foley, 87 Iowa, 8, 54 N. W.
The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded for further proceedings. Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FISCHER v. MUNSEY TRUST COMPANY
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- Syllabus
- Process; Pleading; Abatement; Bad Faitii. 1. Where the question of the validity of the service of process may be determined as a matter of law, it is proper to raise it by a motion to quash (following Ricketts v. Sun Printing & Pub. Asso. 27 App. D. C. 222; Ferguson Contracting Co. V. Coal & Coke R. Co. 33 App. D. C. 159; Toledo Computing Scale Co. V. Miller, 38 App. D. C. 237; and Wendell v. Holland America Line, 40 App. D. C. 1) ; but where the affidavits in support of and in opposition to such a motion raise an issue of fact, and the parties do not waive a trial by jury, the motion must necessarily be denied and the question determined on a plea in abatement. 2. Where a plea in abatement is filed during the summer recess of the court, about thirty days after the filing of affidavits in opposition to a motion to quash the service of process, it cannot be said that the defendant was guilty of undue delay in filing the plea. 3. If the defendant in an action is induced by the representations of the plaintiff to come within the jurisdiction of the court for the purpose of a conference having for its object an amicable settlement of the controversy between them, and, while engaged in such conference, service of process is made upon him, such an act is one of bad faith amounting to misrepresentation; and if pleaded in abatement of the action, a motion to strike out the plea should be denied.