Case Name: TAYLOR v. MONTCALM CIRCUIT JUDGE
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1900-02-20
Citations: 122 Mich. 692
Docket Number: 
Parties: TAYLOR v. MONTCALM CIRCUIT JUDGE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 122
Pages: 692–694

Head Matter:
TAYLOR v. MONTCALM CIRCUIT JUDGE.
Appeals from Justice’s Court — Plea op Title — Jurisdiction.
1 Comp. Laws 1897, §§ 782, 789, which provide that a defendant prevailing-in the circuit court in a suit which he caused to be certified from justice’s court upon his notice that the title to land was involved shall not recover his costs if the trial judge shall certify that title did not come in question, but shall in such case pay costs to the plaintiff, contemplate that causes so certified shall be tried in the circuit courtmpon the merits, and it is therefore error for a circuit judge to dismiss such a case for want of jurisdiction upon a finding merely that title is not involved.
Mandamus by Henrietta W. Taylor to compel Frank D. M. Davis, circuit judge of Montcalm county, to vacate an order dismissing an appeal from justice’s court.
Submitted January 2, 1900.
Writ granted February 20, 1900.
Delator brought suit in justice’s court in trover for the conversion of certain stone which she alleged the defendant removed from her land. The defendant, with his plea, gave notice that the title to the land would come in question, filed the statutory bond, and the case was thereupon certified to the circuit court. The case was heard before the court without a jury. The court found that the title to the land was not in question, and dismissed the appeal for want of jurisdiction, and ordered that either party might have 20 days to refer the case back to the justice’s court for trial. The relator now asks the writ of mandamus to compel the circuit court to proceed and try the case.
William O. Webster, for relator.
Frank A. Miller, for respondent.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The provisions of the statute applicable to this case are sections 782, 789, 1 Comp. Laws 1897. They read as follows:
"Sec. 782. In every action where the title to land shall in anywise come in question, the defendant may give notice thereof, under the general issue, upon the return day or any adjourned day of such action, and he may also give notice as in other cases of any other matter of defense."
"Sec. 789. If the judgment in such suit in the circuit or district court shall be for the plaintiff, he shall recover double costs; if it be for the defendant (other than judgment of nonsuit), and the. presiding judge of the court before which the issue is tried shall certify that the title to lands did not come in question, the defendant shall not recover costs, but shall pay costs to the plaintiff."
We think the learned circuit judge was clearly in error. When the defendant has removed his case to the circuit coui't under this law, the statute contemplates that the trial upon the merits should be had in that court. The proper practice in these cases is that followed in Dolahanty v. Lucey, 101 Mich. 113, and Newcombe v. Irwin, 55 Mich. 620, and many other cases which might be' cited.
The writ will issue, directing the circuit court to set aside the order of dismissal, and to proceed with the trial of the case.
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