Case ID: mich-np-r_2/html/0152-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Brown, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ira D. Bixby and Lorenzo Bixby vs. Nicholas B. Rowe, George W. Wallace and Nathan H. Bitely.
    A defective certificate of sale of real estate, upon execution, may be amended by the person making the sale, even after his term of office has expired.
    
      Van Buren Circuit,
    
      April, 1871.
    This was an action in assumpsit on promissory note made by defendants.
    Suit commenced by declaration. Personal service on all the defendants. Narr. filed December 24,1867. No appearance by either defendants.
    January term, .1868, default of defendants entered and made absolute, and on the 22d of January, 1868, judgment rendered for plaintiffs for amouqt of note, interest and costs.
    Afterwards the costs were taxed ana execution issued to the Sheriff of Van Burén Co., (Edwin B. Farmer,) and on the 23d day of June, 1868, was levied on lots 7 and 8, block 3, Union Addition to the village of Lawton, Van Burén Co.
    Sale made, August 8, 1868, at 1 o'clock P. M., at the Court House in Paw Paw, and lots bid off by plaintiffs, for amount of judgment, interest and costs of sale.
    Plaintiffs waited the expiration of the fifteen month’s redemption right, ^.nd then, on examination and on taking counsel, found that the Sheriff’s certificate of sale was defective, omitting to state the name of the person to whom the premises were sold, and also the amount for which they were sold.
    A motion is now made by the plaintiffs in behalf of the Sheriff, for an order of the Court, granting to Edwin E. Farmer, late Sheriff, leave to amend his certificate of the sale of said real estate, according to the facts of said sale.
    Motion Ex parte.
    
   By the Court,

Brown, J.

Can a Sheriff amend his certificate of sale of real estate; and if he can, will the Court permit him to do so, after his term of office has expired and he is no longer holding that office ?

J. W. Brees°, for the motion, contends that it is settled that a Sheriff may amend his certificate of sale of real estate by leave of the Court. 1 Doug. Mich. R., 42. This was an attachment suit and judgment by default, and the defendants movecl to set aside the judgment and all subsequent proceedings, for irregularities, and the Court refused the motion, assigning as one ground therefor that the Sheriff had a right to amend his return in the Circuit Court. 2 C Laws, page 1201, § 4418.

It has been held that a Sheriff may amend his certificate of sale whore he has omitted to describe the parcel sold. 1 Cowen, 430.

He may also strike out a parcel which should not have been sold. 8 Howard’s Pr., 79. A casé in 1 Cowen, 218, gives a form of order of amendment and is very similar to the present case, showing that the late Sheriff may make an amendment by leave of the Court.

The recitals in a Sheriff’s deed are amendable. 13 Wend., 29, and so of variance between the judgment and execution. 4 Wend., 462.

There seems to be abundant authority to the effect that a Sheriff who made the sale or his successor in office may make a deed. 2 C. Laws, page 937, § 3151; 3 Mich., 436; 3 Cowen, 75.

As to when a Sheriff may complete execution process in his hands, see 1 C. L., page 210, § 431; page 207, § 418.

As to re-sale on execution by Sheriff, after he. had gone out of office, see 5 Hill, 228; 4 Barb., 180.

•This motion is made on the part of the plaintiffs in execution, and the question of laches does not arise.

The motion is granted.