Case ID: mich-pr_1/html/0005-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Frank C. Schattler v. Willard M. Lillibridge, Circuit Judge of Wayne County.
    Notice op Trial — Necessity op in Quo Warranto Cases.
    Relator ..applied for mandamus to coinpel the respondent to vacate an order placing the issue framed in a quo warranto proceeding, -brought to test relators title to the office of Supervisor on the calendar, and setting a day for the, trial thereof during the then term of court without service of notice of trial, as provided for by How. Stat.'§. 7561. Ah order to show cause was denied.
    
      William Look and Ira G. Humphrey, for relator contended:
    1. That on April 21, 1896, the Supreme Court adopted Circuit Court Rule No. 108 (104 Mich.) whieh provides, among other things that the issue framed in a quo warranto case by the filing and service of a replication to the plea of the respondent shall be- at once placed upon the calendar of the then pending term for trial, upon due notice by either party, and shall be given precedence over -all civil cases, and that the Circuit Judge acted finder said rule in making 'the order complained of.
    ,.2. That upon the hearing below réspondent’s counsel cited as authority for making said rule section 3, of Act. No. 221, Laws of 1861 (How. Stát. § 8662) which authorized the circuit courts tó make rules to regulate proceedings finder informations Jn.the nature.of quo.war.[r'anto, to have effect until the Supreme Court should make rules thfireffir;'that sáid statute does not affect the -¡jufedfion under discussion; and if it. did, - it "wad repealed by How. Stat. sec. 7551,. which, as -amended ip 1883, proyides .“that written notice of trial of ,'every issue of fact in a circuit court shall in • all cases be served at least fourteen days before the first dayof the court at -which said trial shfill be intended to be had.”
    
      Allan H. 'flrazer, prosecuting attorney, {Charles.H. Warren, of counsel) for respondent, pontefided:
    1. Thdt 'tfie information was. .filed three, days pifter ‘the adoption.- of ;Circuit Court 111116 No. 108,' which 'jjfqiyidep among other things,,- that ■ pito 'warrántó cases shall be deeqied to be at ¡issue upon the filing and serviee of a .replication to the plea of the respondent’ to the ’information filed against him; that under How. Stat. seC. 6409, the Supreme Court has authority to regulate the forms of pleading; that the adoption of said rule removes all question as to whether or not a similiter was necessary to put the case at issue, and as to whether or not notice of trial should have been served after the filing and service of the similiter.
    
    2. That the only other question raised by counsel for relator is that Circuit Court Buie No. 108, contravenes How. Stat. § 7551 cited in his brief; that said section is not applicable to the trial of 'quo warranto cases; that the Supreme Court in adopting Circuit Court Buie No. 108 prescribed a rule for the trial of such cases; that it was empowered to do so by § 8, article 6, of the Constitution as amended, and by virtue of its authority under How. Stat. Chap, 278, to regulate the trial of such cases; that when the circuit courts were given jurisdiction of quo warranto cases, How. Stat. § 7551 did not apply to the trial of the same, nor, by reason of the vesting of original jurisdiction in the circuit courts to try such cases, did said rule become applicable, the power to make rules governing their trial being granted to the Supreme Court.
   The facts as alleged in the petition for mamdamms were as follows:

a — That on April 24,1896, the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county filed in the circuit court for said county an information in the nature of quo warranto to test the title of the relator to the office of Supervisor.

b — That on May 13, 1896, the relator pleaded to said information setting forth his election, denying the election of his opponent named in the information, and averring the issuance to him on April 8, 1896, of a certificate of election.,

c — That on May 16, 1896, a replication was filed .to said plea, and a copy thereof served on relator.

d — That on May 18, 1896, the prosecuting attorney entered a motion that said ease be placed on the docket of the then present-April term of court, for trial, and caused notice of the hearing of said motion to be served upon relator.

e — That on May 20,1896, relator filed a similiter, to said replication,' and caused a copy thereof to be served. on the prosecuting. attorney.

f — •That on June 5, 1896, respondent made an order granting, said motion, and setting the case down for trial for June 18,1896.

g — That the said April term of court commenced on April 7,1896, and terminates on July 7,1896, at which time the next term of said court will commence.