Case Name: SCHNEIDER v. LINKFIELD
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1973-07-24
Citations: 389 Mich. 608
Docket Number: No. 6; Docket No. 54,120
Parties: SCHNEIDER v LINKFIELD
Judges: T. G. Kavanagh, J., concurred with Swainson, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 389
Pages: 608–623

Head Matter:
SCHNEIDER v LINKFIELD
Decision of the Court
1. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute— Automobiles.
A provision of the long-arm statute that the act or acts which create a relationship of "[t]he ownership, use, or possession of any real or personal tangible property situated within the state”, constituted a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the courts of record of Michigan to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants who were sued to recover damages for injuries received in an automobile accident in Indiana where, at the time of the accident, defendant driver was licensed by the State of Michigan, all the injured parties were Michigan residents and all the involved vehicles were both titled and licensed in Michigan (MCLA 600.705[3]).
For Affirmance
T. G. Kavanagh and Swainson, JJ.
2. Appeal and Error — Preserving Issues — Courts—Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute.
The issue of jurisdiction under a provision of the long-arm statute was properly raised in the trial court and is properly before the Court on appeal where it is apparent that plaintiffs, in arguing defendants’ motion for accelerated judgment, were raising all of the possible grounds for jurisdiction over defendants, nonresidents of Michigan, under that statute (MCLA 600.70S).
3. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute— Automobiles — Constitutional Law — Due Process.
Defendants, residents of another state, did come within the context of a provision of the long-arm statute covering "[tjhe ownership, use, or possession of any real or tangible personal property situated within the state", where, at the time defendants’ automobile struck plaintiffs’ automobile in another state, defendants were residents of the State of Michigan, their vehicle was licensed by the State of Michigan, it was titled in the State of Michigan, the driver of the car was licensed by the State of Michigan; due process of law is not violated by permitting jurisdiction over such defendants (MCLA 600.70S[S]).
References for Points in Headnotes
[1, 3-6, 8-13] 20 Am Jur 2d, Courts § 144.
[2] 5 Am Jur 2d, Appeal and Error § 545.
[7] 50 Am Jur, Statutes §§ 57, 58.
4. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute— Construction — Constitutional Law — Due Process.
Courts have generally construed their long-arm statutes as extending the state’s jurisdiction to the farthest limits permitted by due process.
For Affirmance
T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and Williams and M. S. Coleman, JJ.
5. Courts — Jurisdiction—Long-Arm Statute — Automobiles.
The facts of a case where nonresident defendants were sued to recover damages for injuries received in an automobile accident in Indiana, at the time of the accident the defendant driver was licensed by the State of Michigan, together with the fact that all the involved parties were Michigan parties, and that all the involved vehicles were both titled and licensed in Michigan, and given the proximity of the accident to the Michigan border demonstrates that the tests of requirements for jurisdiction of "minimum contacts" and "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice” are met with respect to a provision of the long-arm statute that the act or acts which create a relationship of "ltjhe ownership, use, or possession of any real or tangible personal property situated within the state” shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the courts of record of Michigan to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over an individual (MCLA 600. ?05[3]).
6. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Automobiles.
The fairness of jurisdiction in Michigan courts over nonresident defendants in a lawsuit to recover damages for injuries received in an automobile accident in Indiana is illustrated by the significant relationships defendants had with Michigan at the time of the accident that: the defendant driver was licensed by the State of Michigan together with the fact that all the involved parties were Michigan parties, and that all the involved vehicles were both titled and licensed in Michigan, and given the proximity of the accident to the Michigan border.
7. Constitutional Law — Statutes.
The constitutional application of a statute must be determined in every instance in light of the facts of the particular case.
8. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute— Automobiles — Constitutional Law — Constructive Situs— Due Process.
A provision of the long-arm statute that the act or acts which create a relationship of '[tjhe ownership, use, or possession of any real or tangible personal property situated within the state" shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the courts of record of Michigan to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over an individual is constitutional as applied to the speciffc facts of a case where nonresident defendants were ■ sued to recover damages for injuries received in an automobile accident in Indiana, at the time of the accident the defendant driver was licensed by the State of Michigan, together with the fact that all the involved parties were Michigan parties, and that all the involved vehicles were both titled and licensed in Michigan, and given the proximity of the accident to the Michigan border, but this decision does not require the Michigan Supreme Court to promulgate such a sweeping generalization as "constructive situs” and, in many instances, the due process restraints of a decision of the United States Supreme Court would prohibit such a rule as an exclusive litmus test of jurisdiction (MCLA 600.705[3j).
Dissenting Opinion
T. E. Brennan, J.
9. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute— Automobiles.
The Michigan long-arm statute is not long enough to reach defendants who were not residents of Michigan at the time service of process was attempted, although defendants were residents of Michigan at the time the automobile accident occurred in Indiana, their vehicle was licensed by the State of Michigan, their vehicle was titled in the State of Michigan, and the driver of the car was a driver licensed by the State of Michigan; none of these four "contacts" are relevant (MCLA 600.705).
10. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute.
The Michigan long-arm statute has to do solely with circumstances under which Michigan courts may exert limited personal jurisdiction over nonresidents (MCLA 600.705[3j).
11. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Service of Process —Secretary of State.
Statute, providing that ’’service of summons in any action against a person, who at the time of such service is a nonresident of this state, growing out of any accident or collision in which such person may have been involved while operating a motor vehicle upon a public highway of this state or in which a motor vehicle owned by him may have been involved while being operated with his consent, express or implied, on such public highway, may be made upon the secretary of state as the true and lawful attorney of such person with the same legal force as if served on him personally within this state”, permits service upon the Secretary of State as agent for a nonresident motorist only in cases where the collision occurs upon a public highway of the State of Michigan (MCLA 257.403).
12. Process — Nonresident Defendant — Court Rules.
Statute providing for service of summons on a nonresident of Michigan does not purport to appoint the Secretary of State as the agent of the nonresident motorist where the accident does not occur upon a Michigan highway; there being no agent to be found within the State of Michigan, there is no basis for service by registered mail upon nonresident defendants outside of the state under the court rule providing for substituted service (MCLA 257.403; GCR1963, 105.2[1]).
13. Courts — Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents — Long-Arm Statute —Automobiles—Constructive Situs.
Concept of constructive situs, that an automobile involved in an accident in another state was constructively situated in Michigan because it was titled by the State of Michigan and therefore comes within the purview of a provision of the Michigan long-arm statute providing that the existence of a relationship between an individual or his agent and the state arising out of acts creating the relationship of ”[t]he ownership, use, or possession of any real or tangible personal property situated within the state” shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the courts of record of Michigan to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over such individual to enable such courts to render personal judgment against such individual, has no basis in authority (MCLA 600.705[3j).
Appeal from Court of Appeals, Division 3, R. B. Burns, P. J., and Levin and T. M. Burns, JJ., reversing and remanding Kent, John H. Vander Wal, J.
Submitted March 7, 1973.
(No. 6
March Term 1973,
Docket No. 54,120.)
Decided July 24, 1973.
40 Mich App 131 affirmed.
Complaint by Russell Schneider and Marjorie Schneider against Roberta Evelyn Linkfield, Jeanne Marie Murphy, and Eugene Murphy for damages for injuries sustained in an automobile collision. Accelerated judgment for defendants Murphy. Plaintiffs appealed to the Court of Appeals. Reversed and remanded. Defendants Murphy appeal.
Affirmed.
Hillman, Baxter & Hammond (by Joel M. Boy-den), for plaintiffs.
Wheeler, Upham, Bryant & Uhl (by Geoffrey L. Gillis), for defendants Murphy.

Opinion:
Swainson, J.
(for affirmance). Plaintiff Marjorie Schneider was injured in a three car accident which occurred in Indiana. She was a passenger in an automobile owned and operated by John Boelma. The Boelma automobile first struck the car driven by defendant Roberta Linkfield, and was then struck by an automobile driven by defendant Jeanne Murphy and owned by defendant Eugene Murphy. At the time of the accident, May 11, 1968, all of the parties were Michigan residents. The Murphys were residents of Michigan at the time of the occurrence of the accident, but prior to the commencement of the lawsuit, the Murphys moved their residence to New Jersey where they presently reside.
On May 7, 1970, plaintiffs filed suit against all of the defendants. On August 24, 1970, the Murphys filed a motion to quash service of process, to dismiss the action, and for accelerated judgment. On October 7, 1970, the trial court rendered an opinion holding that the court lacked jurisdiction over the defendants Murphy. On November 23, 1970, an order of accelerated judgment in favor of the defendants was entered.
The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded for trial holding that there was jurisdiction over the defendants under the long-arm statute, MCLA 600.705; MSA 27A.705. Since this is a question of first impression in our state, we granted leave to appeal. 387 Mich 811 (1972).
Two issues have been raised on appeal.
(1) Whether the plaintiffs properly raised the question of the jurisdiction of the court over defendants pursuant to MCLA 600.705(3); MSA 27A.705(3) at the trial court level?
(2) Whether the defendants are subject to jurisdiction under MCLA 600.705(3); MSA 27A.705(3)? Whether the defendants are subject to jurisdiction under MCLA 600.705(1), (2) or (4); MSA 27A.705(1), (2) or (4)?
I.
MCLA 600.705; MSA 27A.705 provides:
"The existence of any of the following relationships between an individual or his agent and the state shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the courts of record of this state to exercise limited personal jurisdiction over such individual and to enable such courts to render personal judgments against such individual or his representative arising out of the act or acts which create any of the following relationships:
"(1) The transaction of any business within the state.
"(2) The doing or causing any act to be done, or consequences to occur, in the state resulting in an action for tort.
"(3) The ownership, use, or possession of any real or tangible personal property situated within the state.
"(4) Contracting to insure any person, property, or risk located within this state at the time of contracting.
"(5) Entering into a contract for services to be rendered or for materials to be furnished in the state by the defendant.
"(6) Acting as a director, manager, trustee, or other officer of any corporation incorporated under the laws of, or having its principal place of business within, the state of Michigan."
Defendants contend that the decision of the Court of Appeals should be reversed because the case was decided upon a ground that the plaintiffs had not raised in the trial court. Defendants admit that plaintiffs argued there was jurisdiction under RJA § 705(2) and RJA § 705(1) but did not raise the issue of jurisdiction under RJA § 705(3).
The general rule that issues and claims not advanced in the trial court will not be considered for the first time on appeal has been upheld in Michigan. Maxson v Bay County, 290 Mich 86, 89 (1939); Village of St. Clair Shores v Village of Grosse Pointe Woods, 319 Mich 372, 375 (1947); Therrian v General Laboratories, Inc, 372 Mich 487, 490 (1964). However, a review of the record demonstrates that the issue of jurisdiction under RJA § 705(3) was raised in the trial court. The court in passing on the motion was dealing with all of the subsections of RJA § 705. Defendants' attorney in arguing the motion for accelerated judgment went through all of the possible grounds for jurisdiction under RJA § 705 and contended they did not apply. He stated concerning RJA §705(3):
"Now, the third ground, the ownership, use or possession of any real or tangible property situated within the state. Certainly, nothing like that in this case."
The plaintiffs' attorney in response stated:
"May it please the Court, Your Honor, I take it that what we have boiled this down to, at this point, is the question of whether or not the Long Arm Statute applies."
Defendants' attorney did not object to this statement, and it is apparent that plaintiffs were raising all of the possible grounds under RJA §705 and defendants were disputing that any of the grounds applied. The rule cited above was complied with in this case. The issue raised in the trial court was whether RJA § 705 conferred jurisdiction over the defendants. That is the same issue on appeal here. It was properly raised in the trial court below and is properly before the Court on appeal.
II.
The basic issue involves the construction of MCLA 600.705(3); MSA 27A.705(3). It is not disputed that at the time of the accident, defendants owned personal property which was titled in Michigan but physically located in Indiana. Plaintiffs have pointed out that defendants had the following contact with the State of Michigan.
(1) The Murphys were residents of Michigan.
(2) The Murphy vehicle was licensed by the State of Michigan.
(3) The Murphy vehicle was titled in the State of Michigan.
(4) Defendant, Jeanne Murphy, the driver of the car, Was a driver licensed by the State of Michigan.
In Sifers v Horen, 385 Mich 195 (1971), the Court upheld the jurisdiction under RJA § 705(1) in a contract which resulted from a conversation between a lawyer, who was lecturing in Michigan, and a resident of the State of Michigan. The majority pointed out that the statute used the term "any" and stated in a footnote that the word "any" means each and every. 385 Mich 198-199. Likewise the word "any" is used in RJA § 705(3). We believe that under the facts of this case the defendants did come within the context of RJA § 705(3). '
Defendants have cited no case which would indicate that this interpretation of RJA § 705(3) violates the United States Constitution. As the majority held in Sifers, supra, 199:
"The courts of those states having 'long-arm' statutes similar to that of Michigan which confer, specifically, limited personal jurisdiction over defendants based on 'the transaction of any business within the state,' have generally construed their statutes as extending the state's jurisdiction to the farthest limits permitted by due process. "(Emphasis added.)
Due process of law is not violated by permitting jurisdiction over the defendants in this case pursuant to the provisions of RJA § 705(3), and having thus determined this issue, it is not necessary to determine whether jurisdiction would be conferred under the provisions of subsections (1), (2) or (4).
The judgment of the Court of Appeals is af firmed and the cause is remanded for a trial. Costs to plaintiffs.
T. G. Kavanagh, J., concurred with Swainson, J.
Williams, J. (to affirm). While I feel Justice Swainson's opinion reaches the proper conclusion in this case using the Michigan long-arm statute to achieve a reasonable and just common-law result, part II of his opinion introduces into Michigan law the novel concept of "constructive situs", a concept which goes well beyond the due process considerations which lead us to assert jurisdiction here.
International Shoe Co v Washington, 326 US 310; 66 S Ct 154; 90 L Ed 95; 161 ALR 1057 (1945), recites the oft-stated requirements for jurisdiction: "minimum contacts" and "traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice". The facts of this case demonstrate that these tests are met with respect to RJA § 705(3). Justice Swainson's opinion notes the significant relationships defendants had with Michigan at the time of the accident. These contacts, together with the fact that all the involved parties were Michigan parties, and that all the involved vehicles were both titled and licensed in Michigan, and given the proximity of this accident to the Michigan border, illustrate the fairness of jurisdiction in Michigan courts.
But the rule of "constructive situs" goes far beyond the facts of the instant case. For example, the concept of "constructive situs" might be construed to allow the assertion of jurisdiction under RJA § 705(3) in the context of an Alaskan defendant who purchased her car in Michigan, titled it here, drove it back to Alaska intending to eventually change the title, and injured a California plaintiff in the State of Washington two months later. To say as a matter of course that "constructive situs" principles in such a situation satisfy either the fairness and justice demands or the minimum contacts requirements of International Shoe would be clearly absurd.
The constitutional application of a statute must be determined in every instance in light of the facts of the particular case. Cooley, Constitutional Limitations (1st ed), p 180; Straus v Elless Co, 245 Mich 558, 564 (1929); People v Smith, 108 Mich 527, 529 (1896). Thus, while I concur in Justice Swainson's result with respect to the constitutionality of the application of RJA § 705(3) to the specific facts of the instant case, I note that this decision does not require us to promulgate such a sweeping generalization as "constructive situs" and that, in many instances, the due process constraints of International Shoe would prohibit the application of such a rule as an exclusive litmus test of jurisdiction.
T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and M. S. Coleman, J., concurred with Williams, J.
Hereinafter referred to as defendants.
40 Mich App 131 (1972).