Case ID: miss_26/html/0397-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Handy", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Allen and Burns, Administrators, &c., v. H. D. Mandaville et al.
    There is a substantial difference between the commencement of an action, and its being a suit pending between the parties; the first liaving reference only to the act of the plaintiff, but the second has reference also to the position of the defendant. . ;
    The statute provides, that “ when any suit shall be pending in any court of this . State,” and either of the parties shall die before final judgment, a revivor may be had upon scire facias, against the executor or administrator of the deceased party. Hutch. Code, 841, § 47. Held, there is nothing either-in the language or reason of the statute that would give the right to continue a suit by scire facias against the representatives, when they could not have been made parties by bill of revivor; and, in a case like this, they could not be brought in by bill of revivor.
    In error from the southern district chancery court at Natchez; Hon. James M. Smiley, vice-chancellor.
    The opinion contains a statement of the facts of the case.
    
      J. Winchester for appellants.
    Where there has been no service of subpoena on, or appearance of the deceased defendant entered in the original suit, neither a scire facias nor bill of revivor will lie in such a case. 3 Dan’l, Ch. Pr. 1673 ; lb. 1698.
    The courts have held, that when a suit is commenced by service of a subpmna on the parties, and the cause thereby in court, the statute of limitations ceased to run from the first step taken towards the commencement of the suit; a class of decisions entirely wrong, but followed' by modern decisions. But unless service is had in such cases, it does not stop the running of the statute of limitations, and is regarded as no commencement of the suit. 2’Raym. 883; 6 Term R. 617; 7 Verm. 427.
    
      Freeman and Adams, on the same side,
    cited Mitf. Ch. PL 493, and note.
    
      
      Boyd for appellee.
    The subpoena against Bums was returned by the sheriff of I-Iinds county, “the defendant dead before this writ carne to hand; ” and sci. fa. was then issued to make his administrators, Allen and Burns, defendants to the bill, which was executed and returned, and judgment pro confesso .token against the other defendants, after overruling their demurrer; as also against Allen and Bums, administrators, for failing to answer generally.
    The sci. fa. was issued under the old rule in chancery, and pro confesso taken according to the statute. Hutch. Code, 842. That section is part of the circuit court act of 1822, and is made applicable to all other courts in the State, unless restricted. Hutch. Code, 736, § 100.
    As to the party defendant, the issuance of the subpoena is sufficient of itself to constitute such pendency of the suit. 1 Cushm. 61.
   Mr. Justice Handy

delivered the opinion of the court.

The defendants in error filed their bill in the southern district chancery court against the intestate of the plaintiffs in error and others, upon which process was issued, upon which the sheriff made return, that the defendant, the plaintiffs’ intestate, was dead before the writ came to his hands. And thereupon a scire facias was issued to revive the suit against the plaintiffs in error, as his administrators, which was returned duly served, and a pro confesso taken, and final decree rendered against them.

The plaintiffs in error now insist that, under the circumstances of the case, it was error to revive the suit against them, as it was not in law “ depending” against their intestate at the time of his death. The correctness of this position depends upon our statutes in relation to it.

The statute provides that, “ when any suit shall be depending in any court of this State,” and either of the parties shall die before final judgment, a revivor may be made upon scire facias against the executor or administrator of the deceased party. Hutch. Code, 841, § 47. Was there, then, a suit depending against the intestate when the scire facias against the administrators was issued ? And this involves the question, What constitutes a pending suit?

It is well settled that a lis pendens begins from the service of the subpoena, and not from the time of filing the bill, or issuing the subpoena. 2 Sugd. Vend. 281; Murray v. Ballou, 1 Johns. Ch. R. 576; 15 J. R. 315.

It is. contended, however, that this rule only applies to a Us pendens which is to be notice to a stranger, and that generally the issuance of the subpoena is the commencement of the suit. In reference to the statute of limitations, the issuance of the writ is doubtless the commencement of the action, because that is the term used in the statute. But even in that case, it is held not to be a good commencement of the action, unless the writ be afterwards served. 7 Verm. R. 429. There is a substantial difference between the commencement of an action, and its being a suit depending between the parties; the first having reference only to the act of the plaintiff, but the second having reference also to the position of the defendant; and it was accordingly laid down, that until the defendant appeared to the bill, there was in strictness no cause in court against him; and if his interest determined before appearance, the. suit could not be continued by supplemental bill against his successor. 3 Daniel, Ch. Pr. 1663. Nor revived against his personal representative, if he dies before appearance. Ib. 1698. But the rule seems now to be settled, that the bill becomes a pending suit, as to him and his representatives, from the service of the subpoena.

There may be good reason for providing that a suit thus pending against a deceased party may be continued and carried on against his representatives, for the deceased has had notice of it, and an opportunity to make or provide for his defence. But this reason would fail where no such opportunity was afforded ; and the representatives would come into the suit, to all intents and purpose?, as if it had never been commenced against the deceased, and without any means of defence which it is reasonable to presume the deceased would have provided, had notice been given him that the suit had been commenced against him.

It would seem, therefore, that in using the terms suit depending,” the legislature had regard not only to the well understood technical import of the terms, but also to the just practical result to the rights of the parties; and there is nothing either in the language or reason of the statute that would give the right to continue the suit by scire facias against the representatives when they could not have been made parties by bill of revivor; and it is well settled, that in a case like this, they could not be brought in by bill of revivor.

The decree as to Allen and Burns administrators, is therefore reversed, and the scire facias dismissed as to them, and the suit abated as to the intestate "William Burns.