Opinion

Deidesheimer v. Brown

  • 8 Cal. 339
Court
California Supreme Court
Filed
Jul 1, 1857
Status
Published
Author
Burnettterry
On the bench
Burnett, Terry
Cited by
14 cases
Authority
More cited than 97.4%

The opinion

Burnett, J., delivered'the opinion of the Court—Terry, C. J., concurring.

Action before Justice’s Court, to recover mining-claim; summons issued and served February 3,1857, returnable February 14. Defendant moved to dismiss the case, because the summons was dated, issued, and served, more than ten days before its return. Motion overruled, and defendant answered. Judgment for defendant, and plaintiff appealed to the County Court. Do *340 fendant again moved to dismiss, and motion overruled. Trial upon the merits, and judgment for plaintiffs, and defendant appeals to this Court.

- The motion of the defendant to dismiss should have been sustained. If the justice could make the summons returnable in eleven days from its date, then he could make it returnable in eleven months. The defendant has an interest in a speedy trial, as well as the plaintiff. The appearance of the defendant, for the purpose of making the proper motion, did not waive his rights; had he answered without any objection, then he could not afterwards have complained. Prac. Act, § 541; White well v. Barbier and others, January, 1857.

But we would not be understood as expressing any opinion as to whether such a judgment could be collaterally impeached or not. That question does not arise in this case. Here the defendant promptly appealed from the judgment itself.

The judgment of the County Court is reversed, and that Court will dismiss the plaintiff’s case.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.