Case Title: Johann, Sr. v. Johann, Jr.

Citation: 111 N.E.2d 473, 232 Ind. 40

Docket Number: 28,890

State: indiana

Court: Indiana Supreme Court

Date: 1953-03-31T00:00:00Z

Document:
232 Ind. 40 (1953)
111 N.E.2d 473
JOHANN, SR.
v.
JOHANN, JR. ET AL.
No. 28,890.

Supreme Court of Indiana.
Filed March 31, 1953.
*41 Isidor Kahn, Harry P. Dees, Arthur R. Donovan, Robert Kahn and Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn (of counsel), all of Evansville, for appellant.
Arthur C. Stone, Jack A. Stone, and Stone & Stone (of counsel), all of Evansville, for appellee.
Robert J. Hayes, Receiver, pro se.
EMMERT, C.J.
This is an appeal from an interlocutory order appointing a receiver for the partnership property of William Johann, Sr. and William Johann, Jr., partners doing business as "Radio & Refrigeration *42 Co.," "Bill, the Appliance Whiz," "Kalamazoo Sales and Service," and "Bottle Gas Company."
On February 19, 1952, the appellee, William Johann, Jr., filed his verified complaint in the Vanderburgh Probate Court against the appellant for a dissolution of their partnership, an accounting, and the appointment of a receiver without notice. The complaint is as follows:
Thereafter, on the same day a summons was issued for appellant, returnable March 10, 1952, and this was delivered to the Sheriff for service. The return to the summons stated it was served on the appellant by reading it to James Glidewell, agent for William Johann, Sr., and by leaving a true copy of same with him.
After the summons was delivered to the Sheriff the court, upon the verified complaint, appointed a receiver without notice for the partnership property.
Appellant contends that no action had been commenced when the receiver was appointed, and therefore the trial court was without jurisdiction to make the appointment. It is the commencement of an action that gives a court jurisdiction to act, and no receiver can be appointed unless the action be first commenced. Tucker v. Tucker (1924), *45 194 Ind. 108, 142 N.E. 11; Marshall v. Matson (1908), 171 Ind. 238, 86 N.E. 339; Winona, Warsaw, Elkhart & South Bend Traction Co. v. Collins (1904), 162 Ind. 693, 69 N.E. 998; Alexandria Gas Co. v. Irish (1899), 152 Ind. 535, 53 N.E. 762; State v. Union Nat'l. Bank (1896), 145 Ind. 537, 44 N.E. 585, 57 Am. St. 209; Pressley v. Harrison (1885), 102 Ind. 14, 1 N.E. 188.
Appellant's position is that the record, as made by the appellee, shows he is a non-resident of the state and that the action could only be commenced against him by the publication of notice, in which event, under § 2-802, Burns' 1946 Replacement, the action would be commenced "from the time of the first publication." However, § 2-703, Burns' 1946 Replacement, provides as follows:
In Rauber v. Whitney (1890), 125 Ind. 216, 25 N.E. 186, we held that partners, who were residents of Ohio, could be served with process by service of summons upon their agents who were operating a shoe store in Tipton when the matters in suit grew out of and were connected with such store. See also Conkey v. Conder (1894), 137 Ind. 441, 37 N.E. 132; Edwards v. Van Cleave (1911), 47 Ind. App. 347, 351, 94 N.E. 596; Worthington v. Qualkinbush (1907), 40 Ind. App. 554, 82 N.E. 534. Appellant does not contend *46 § 2-703, Burns' 1946 Replacement, is unconstitutional as applied to an agent of a non-resident defendant member of a partnership as to business transactions growing out of the business of such office. The return of the Sheriff was at least prima facie evidence of proper service on appellant's agent. Workingmen's Mut. etc. Assn. v. Swanson (1909), 43 Ind. App. 379, 381, 87 N.E. 668. The action was commenced from the time of issuing summons. Section 2-802, Burns' 1946 Replacement.
However, in Second Real Estate Investments, Inc. v. William Johann, Jr., Adm. de bonis non (1953), 232 Ind. 24, 111 N.E.2d 467, we held, on the authorities therein cited, that a receiver without notice would not be appointed where a restraining order would afford ample protection until notice could be given for the appointment of a receiver. In the appeal at bar appellee did not prove a temporary restraining order would not have given ample protection until he could have given notice for the hearing on the appointment of a receiver. The burden of proving the necessity for not giving notice was on the appellee. Largura Const. Co. v. Super-Steel Products Co. (1939), 216 Ind. 58, 22 N.E.2d 990; Industrial Machinery Co., Inc. v. Roberts (1947), 225 Ind. 1, 72 N.E.2d 225. In view of this rule which we discussed at length in the Second Real Estate Investments, Inc. case, supra, it is not necessary to determine appellant's other assigned reasons for reversal.
The interlocutory order appointing a receiver is reversed, with instructions to the trial court to vacate the appointment.
NOTE.  Reported in 111 N.E.2d 473.