Case Name: PUFFER v. STATE MUTUAL RODDED FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1932-01-15
Citations: 257 Mich. 75
Docket Number: Calendar No. 36,354
Parties: PUFFER v. STATE MUTUAL RODDED FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 257
Pages: 75–76

Head Matter:
PUFFER v. STATE MUTUAL RODDED FIRE INSURANCE CO.
1. Appeal and Error — Trial Court Without Jurisdiction to Dismiss Perfected Appeal.
Where appeal is perfected by appellant by giving timely notice of appeal, circuit court is without jurisdiction to dismiss appeal, although other acts necessary to complete appeal are not performed within required time.
2. Same — Completing Appeal — Nonperformance Excused on Proper Showing.
Order of circuit court dismissing appeal is set aside by Supreme Court, where it appears that appeal was perfected by giving timely notiee. of appeal, although other necessary aets to complete appeal were not performed, and, reasonable excuse for nonperformance having been shown, circuit court is directed to enter such order as may be necessary therefor.
Appeal from Kalkaska; Lamb (Fred S.), J.
Submitted December 15, 1931.
(Calendar No. 36,354)
Decided January 15, 1932.
Action by George W. Puffer against State Mutual Nodded Fire Insurance Company of Michigan on a fire insurance policy. Defendant appeals from an order dismissing appeal.
Order set aside.
Kimane & Leibrand, for appellant.
Henry Miltner, for appellee.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
In this case a judgment was entered in tbe circuit court for tbe county of Kalkaska in favor of tbe plaintiff on September 24, 1931. Defendant's attorney mailed in Bay City a preliminary notice of appeal to the county clerk on October 10th. It was received and filed by him on October 14th. He also mailed a copy thereof on the same day to the plaintiff's attorney, and one addressed to "Circuit Court Stenographer, Cadillac." This latter notice was not received by the stenographer who reported the case, which was tried in Cadillac, until several days later. Proof of service of these notices was not mailed to the county clerk until November 6th.
Plaintiff's attorney moved in the circuit court to dismiss this appeal. Defendant's attorney asked that if the motion be denied he be permitted to correct any irregularities in the perfecting of the appeal. It seems to have been conceded that the trial court had jurisdiction to hear the motion to dismiss. He concluded that the court rules had not been complied with, and entered an order on November 12th dismissing the appeal.
In an opinion of this court, handed down on December 10, 1931 (Hoffman v. Security Trust Co., 256 Mich. 383), it was held that—
"An appeal is perfected when notice of appeal is filed within the required time. The other acts necessary to complete an appeal are not jurisdictional. When the appeal is perfected by seasonable filing of the notice of appeal, the jurisdiction of the appellate court attaches and the trial court has no authority to dismiss the appeal."
It follows that the order dismissing the appeal must be set aside. As it appears that there was reasonable excuse for the nonperformance of the other acts to complete the appeal, we see no reason for the issuance of an order to show cause on defendant's motion, but hereby direct the trial court to enter such order as may be necessary therefor.