Case Name: Michael McLaughlin v. George Wilks
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1880-01-23
Citations: 42 Mich. 553
Docket Number: 
Parties: Michael McLaughlin v. George Wilks.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 42
Pages: 553–553

Head Matter:
Michael McLaughlin v. George Wilks.
Misnomer — Amendment of declaration.
An amendment to a declaration whereby the plaintiff’s name was changed from Dilks to Wilks was properly allowed on due showing, after personal service and default made absolute, and before judgment.
Error to Superior Court of Detroit.
Submitted January 15.
Decided January 23.
Assumpsit. Defendant brings error.
Hawley & Firnane for plaintiff in error.
íhe plaintiff’s name in a declaration is matter of substance. Gilbert v. Hanford, 13 Mich., 40; Wixom v. Stephens, 17 Mich., 518; La Grange v. Chapman, 11 Mich., 499; Foster v. Alden, 21 Mich., 507.
Maybwry & Conely for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Marston, C. J.
This action was commenced by declaration, in the name of George Dilks as plaintiff. Personal service upon the defendant was obtained, but he did not appear. After his default had been entered and made absolute, a motion was made to amend the record so that the name of the plaintiff, wherever it occurred, should read George Wilks instead of George Dilks. Affidavits were read and filed in support of the motion, showing that the name Dilks was inserted by mistake, how it occurred, and that the defendant had knowledge of that fact and was not misled, and upon this showing an amendment was allowed and made, and judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff. The amendment was proper, and comes clearly within previous decisions of this court. Final v. Backus, 18 Mich., 218; Barber v. Smith, 41 Mich., 138 and cases cited.
Judgment affirmed with costs.
The other Justices concurred.