Case Name: William Wilson v. William Atkin, Commissioner of Highways, and James Spears, Clerk, of the Township of Arbela
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1890-04-18
Citations: 80 Mich. 247
Docket Number: 
Parties: William Wilson v. William Atkin, Commissioner of Highways, and James Spears, Clerk, of the Township of Arbela.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 80
Pages: 247–248

Head Matter:
William Wilson v. William Atkin, Commissioner of Highways, and James Spears, Clerk, of the Township of Arbela.
Highways — Hearing of application to lay out — Adjournment— Jurisdiction.
The power of a commissioner of highways to adjourn the hearing of an application to lay out a highway is limited to twenty days by How. Stat. § 1300, and a longer adjournment ousts him of jurisdiction.
Certiorari to review proceedings for laying out a highway.
Argued April 10, 1890.
Proceedings quashed April 18, 1890.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Wood & Joslin, for petitioner.
Huston & Spears, for respondents. .

Opinion:
Grant, J.
A petition was presented to the defendant Atkin to lay out a highway in his township. He gave notice fixing the time of hearing for August 20, 1889. On the day of hearing he adjourned it to September 7, and on September 7 he again adjourned to September 21.
How. Stat. § 1300, provides that the highway commissioner may adjourn the hearing from time to time, not to exceed 20 days. The commissioner, by his adjournments beyond the time fixed by statute, lost jurisd'crioi. His action, therefore, in laying out the highway, was null and void.
The proceedings must be quashed. There is nothing in the record to indicate that the respondents did not act in good faith, and no costs will be allowed.
The other Justices concurred.