Case Name: LINDEN GRAVEL MINING CO. v. S. H. SHEPLAR
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1878
Citations: 53 Cal. 245
Docket Number: No. 6225
Parties: LINDEN GRAVEL MINING CO. v. S. H. SHEPLAR.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 53
Pages: 245–246

Head Matter:
[No. 6225.]
LINDEN GRAVEL MINING CO. v. S. H. SHEPLAR.
Service of Summons.—Sec. 406 of the Code of Civil Procedure, requiring the summons to he served within one year after filing the complaint, is mandatory.
Special Appearance.—An appearance for the purpose only of making a motion to dismiss, is not a general appearance.
Appeal from the District Court of the Eleventh Judicial District, El Dorado County.
The plaintiff filed his complaint February 3rd, 1877, to quiet title to a tract of land. In March, 1878, the defendant, by his attorney, moved to dismiss the case, on the ground that no summons had been issued within the time required by law. The motion was signed: “ W. W. Likens, Attorney for Defendant for this motion only.” The. motion was granted, and the plaintiff appealed.
Chas. F. Irwin, for Appellant, argued that sec. 406 Code of Civil Procedure is merely directory; also, that the appearance of defendant was a general appearance, waiving service of summons.
W. W. Likens, for Respondent.

Opinion:
By the Court :
1. The Court properly dismissed the action, inasmuch as the summons was not issued within one year after the complaint was filed. (Code of Civil Procedure, sec. 406.)
2. The appearance of defendant for the motion only to dismiss was not a general appearance which waived his right to make the motion.
Judgment affirmed. Remittitur forthwith.