Schnell v. Jay

| Okla. | Feb 13, 1896

The opinion of the court was delivered by The defendant in error on June 24, 1890, filed his complaint against several defendants, claiming damages for assault and false imprisonment. One M. E. Schnell was made a party defendant and the summons served upon Andrew C. Schnell, the plaintiff in error, whom it is alleged was generally known by both names. Several amended complaints were filed, and finally on September 13, 1890, the name of Andrew C. Schnell was substituted for M. E. Schnell. On April 5, 1892, plaintiff obtained leave of court to issue summons for Schnell, which was duly issued on said day and served and returned same day. On the following day Schnell appeared and filed his demurrer to the complaint. One of the grounds of demurrer was that the action was not commenced within the time prescribed by the statute of limitations. The court overruled the demurrer, to which Schnell excepted. Answer was then filed, which consisted of a general denial, and a plea of the statute of limitations. The allegation in the complaint is that the assault was committed on August 17, 1889.

At the time the complaint was filed the statutes adopted from Nebraska were in force in this Territory. According to the provisions of that statute, actions of this character, were required to be brought within one year from the time the cause of action accrued. At the time the assault was committed there was no statute of limitations in force in Oklahoma, and the Nebraska statutes did not become operative until May 2, 1890, and by the terms of the act of congress, putting said statutes in force in Oklahoma, they only continued in force until the adjournment of the First legislative assembly of Oklahoma, which was December 25, 1890. The cause of the action stated in the complaint in this cause did not accrue as contemplated in the Nebraska statutes of limitations until such time as an action could be brought under its provisions.

In the case of Sohn v. Watterson, decided by the supreme court of the United States, 17 Wallace, 596, it was held, "that in construing a statute of limitations, it must so far as it affects rights of action in existence when the statute is passed, be held, in the absence of contrary provision, to begin when the cause of action is first subjected to its operation." The cause of action in the case at bar did not accrue, until May 2, 1890, and the statute gave one year from that time in which to bring the action. While the complaint was filed and Schnell made a party defendant during the time the Nebraska laws were in force, it does not clearly appear that be was served with summons within that period, and hence the action was not deemed commenced under that statute. The Nebraska Statutes in force when the complaint was filed, § 19, Code Civil Procedure, Compiled Statutes Nebraska, 1889, provides: "An action shall be deemed commenced within the meaning of this title as to the defendant, at the date of the summons which is served on him."

The summons issued in this case which was served on Schnell was dated April 5, 1892, so that the cause of action was not commenced under the Nebraska Statutes. The one year's limitation prescribed by the Nebraska Statutes had not expired at the time the Oklahoma Statutes adopted by the first legislative assembly took effect. These Statutes fixed the limitation on this class of actions at two years, and prescribed that the statute should begin to run as to causes of action arising prior to the adoption of the Organic Act, on May 2, 1890. The time in which Jay could have brought this action not having expired at the date the Nebraska laws were superseded by the Oklahoma Statutes, the legislature had the power to extend such time. (1 Wood on Limitations, §§ 11 and 12.)

The Oklahoma Statutes, 1890, adopted from Indiana, § 1, art. 7, ch. 70 provides:

"A civil action shall be commenced by filing in the office of the proper clerk, a complaint and causing a summons to issue thereon, and the action shall be deemed commenced from the time of issuing summons."

The summons which brought Schnell into court was issued April 5, 1892, and he appeared to the action April 6, 1892. At this time the two years limitation which then operated on the cause of action had not expired, and the action was commenced as to him within the period of limitation, and there was no error in overruling his demurrer.

There are no other questions presented in this cause by the record before us.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed with costs.

Dale, C. J., who presided in the court below, not sitting. All the other Justices concurring.