14 Kan. 509 | Kan. | 1875
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The principal if not the only question involved in this case, is, whether a judgment of a justice of the peace rendered upon a service of summons made only two days prior to the time of rendering such judgment is to be deemed valid and binding, when attacked collaterally, or whether such a judgment must be deemed void in all cases. We think that such a judgment is never void, but only voidable, and must be held valid and binding in all cases until reversed, vacated, or set aside by some direct proceeding instituted for that purpose. It is not like a judgment rendered upon no service. The service was good, except that it was made only two days before the time set for trial, while it should have been at least three days before that time. (Gen. Stat., 777, Justices Act, § 12.) The service was merely irregular; it was not no service, or a void service. And a judgment rendered thereon was not void, but at most was only voidable. Ballinger v. Tarbell, 16 Iowa, 491; Freeman on Judgments, § 126. See also in this connection Dutton v. Hobson, 7 Kas., 196; Armstrong v. Grant, 7 Kas., 285; Claypoole v. Houston, 12 Kas., 324, 327; Meisse v. McCoy’s Adm’r, 17 Ohio St., 225.
In the present case the facts are these: One C. W- Donaldson sued one Wm. Hoy, before a justice of the peace, and obtained an order of attachment. The summons and order of attachment were issued on October 14th 1872. Both were made returnable on October 25th. The order was served on
•The judgment of the court below is reversed, and a new trial ordered. *