Case Name: CROZIER v. ALLEN
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1898-05-18
Citations: 117 Mich. 171
Docket Number: 
Parties: CROZIER v. ALLEN.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 117
Pages: 171–172

Head Matter:
CROZIER v. ALLEN.
1. Writ and Process — Service—Summary Proceedings.
Under 2 How. Stat. § 8298, requiring service of the summons in summary proceedings to recover the possession of land to be made “at least two days before the time of appearance mentioned therein,” the day of service, as well as an intervening Sunday, is to be excluded, and the appearance-day included, in the computation.
2. Same — Substituted Service — Jurisdiction.
In such case, a return of substituted service, made before the expiration of the time within which personal service might lawfully be made, is insufficient to confer jurisdiction.
Error to Kent; Adsit, J.
Submitted April 26, 1898.
Decided May 18, 1898.
Case under 2 How. Stat. § 8806, by Alfred O. Crozier and another against Bernard Allen. From a judgment for defendant, plaintiffs bring error.
Affirmed.
Alfred O. Crozier, for appellants.
Frank W. Hine, for appellee.

Opinion:
Grant, C. J.
This suit is brought to recover treble damages, under section 8306, 2 How. Stat.
Defendant failed to pay rent when due. Notice to quit was served September 4th. He did not surrender possession. Plaintiffs on September 12th commenced summary proceedings to eject him. Summons was issued on the 12th, returnable the 17th. The officer, being unable to find the defendant, served the summons on Thursday, the 13th, by leaving a true copy of the same at his usual place of abode, in the manner provided by the statute, and made his return the same day. Defendant did not appear on the return day, and judgment for restitution was rendered. On the 17th and 18th of September, defendant removed his goods from the store, but did not surrender possession till the 27th. The court rendered judgment for the defendant.
Sunday intervened between the day of service and the day for appearance. The statute requires that the summons be served "at least two days before the time of appearance mentioned therein." 2 How. Stat. § 8298. The service was void, and gave the commissioner no jurisdiction. Chaddock v. Barry, 93 Mich. 542 (18 L. R. A. 337). The language of the statute in the two cases is identical. Both parties concede that Sunday, the 16th, is to be excluded from the computation. Substituted service could not have been made till the 14th.
Judgment affirmed.
The other Justices concurred.