116 Mich. 285 | Mich. | 1898
In 1896, Delos A. Blodgett and Delos F. Diggins filed a bill for an accounting in the circuit court in chancery, in Kent county, against the relators, to which bill the relators demurred, and a little later commenced a suit in the Montcalm circuit court upon the same causes of action set forth in the bill of complaint in the chancery proceedings. This action at law was enjoined by the circuit judge in chancery, upon the petition of the complainants, after which a hearing was had upon the
A great many questions are raised and argued in the long and able briefs of counsel, which, in our view of the case, need not be discussed here. Garnishment proceedings are statutory. In Kennedy v. McLellan, 76 Mich. 598, it was said: “It has been held so- many times in this State that garnishee proceedings must follow the statutes strictly, and cannot be extended beyond the plain letter of them, that it is unnecessary to cite the numerous decisions so holding.” See Iron Cliffs Co. v. Lahais, 52 Mich. 394; Weimeister v. Manville, 44 Mich. 408; Ford v. Detroit Dry-Dock Co., 50 Mich. 358. It is important, then, to refer to the statutes in relation to garnishments. 3 How. Stat. § 8058, provides when the writ may issue, and that the garnishee defendant shall make a disclosure in not less than 14 days. 2 How. Stat. 8 8063, provides
The practical effect of the order of the court is to tie up the funds belonging to the defendants, without giving to them the safeguards provided by the statute. . Their hands are tied. They cannot proceed in the action at law in the manner provided by the statute. In effect, rights are conferred upon the complainants in the chancery case which would be denied to them in their capacity as plaintiffs on the law side of the court. The property of defendants is placed beyond their control, and the provisions of the statute are stayed until the further order of the court. This was unauthorized.
The suit at law was commenced by summons, and a general appearance was entered by defendants before they had knowledge of the order made in the chancery cause. As soon as they learned of the order in the chancery proceeding, they moved to vacate it. It is now said that, having appeared in the case, they cannot make this motion. We do not see how the entry,of the appearance of the defendants in the law case will justify the
The writ will issue as prayed, except that portion of it relating to the Montcalm county suit. The injunction as to that will stand until the further order of the court.