Case Name: The People's Mutual Benefit Society of Elkhart, Indiana, v. Robert E. Frazer, Circuit Judge of Wayne County
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1893-11-15
Citations: 97 Mich. 627
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People’s Mutual Benefit Society of Elkhart, Indiana, v. Robert E. Frazer, Circuit Judge of Wayne County.
Judges: 
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 97
Pages: 627–628

Head Matter:
The People’s Mutual Benefit Society of Elkhart, Indiana, v. Robert E. Frazer, Circuit Judge of Wayne County.
Declaration — Affidavit of service — Mandamus.
Mandamus will lie to set aside a default judgment, where the affidavit of service of the declaration by which the suit was commenced fails to show how the service was made; citing How. Stat. § 7293.
Mandamus.
Argued November 14, 1893.
Granted November 15, 1893.
Relator was sued in tbe circuit court for Wayne county upon one of its policies. The affidavit of service of the declaration by which the suit was commenced stated that “due service” of a copy of the declaration was made on the agent of the relator at Bay City, Michigan, naming him, on April 21, 1893, and that another copy of the declaration, with notice of rule to plead indorsed thereon, was served upon J. J. Crowley, another acting agent of the relator, at Detroit, Michigan, on the 8th day of May, 1893. The default of the relator for want of an appearance and plea was entered, and made absolute, and a judgment rendered, which relator moved to set aside, as also its default, on the ground that no legal proof of the service of the declaration had been made. The motion was denied, and relator applied for a mandamus to compel the respondent to grant the motion.
A. G. Pitts and O. M. Leonard, for relator, contended:
1. How. Stat. § 7293, requires the certificate of service of a declaration to state the time and manner of such service, and an officer cannot decide and report that “due service” or “legal service” has been had; citing Perry v. Dover, 12 Pick. 206; Hodges v. Hodges, 6 Iowa, 78; Farris v. Powell, 10 Id. 553; Read v. French, 28 N. Y. 285.
William Look (A. G. Blodget, of counsel), for respondent, contended:
1. This is really a motion to set aside a default on various grounds, and before the relator can be heard it must tender or pay the costs of the default, and plead issuably; citing Circuit Court Rule No. 22; Walsh v. Circuit Judge, 76 Mich. 470.
2. 'The question of the validity of the service was one of fact for the trial judge, and his finding that the service was good will not be set aside, provided there was any testimony upon which to base said finding; citing Vorheis v. Mutual Benefit Society, 86 Mich. 32; Reyer v. Association, 157 Mass. 367; How. Stat. §§ 4362, 8137, 8145.
How. Stat. § 7293, provides that “when, a copy of a declaration and notice of rule to plead, or a subpoena in chancery, or any other writ or paper issued by a circuit court, shall be delivered to any sheriff, under-sheriff, or deputy to serve, it shall be the duty of such officer to serve the same with all convenient speed, and to return the same, with his certificate ' indorsed thereon of the time and manner of such service,” etc.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
A writ of mandamus is granted, on the ground that the affidavit of service of the declaration does not show how such service was made. How. Stat. § 7293.