Case Name: ELIZABETH BOWMAN v. W. C. WARD and A. M. BLACKWELL
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1910-03-17
Citations: 152 N.C. 602
Docket Number: 
Parties: ELIZABETH BOWMAN v. W. C. WARD and A. M. BLACKWELL.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 152
Pages: 602–603

Head Matter:
ELIZABETH BOWMAN v. W. C. WARD and A. M. BLACKWELL.
(Filed 17 March, 1910.)
Vendor and Vendee — Void Judgment — Execution Sale — Restraining Order — Cloud on Title. ,
Though it appears from the face of the proceedings 'that a judgment and levy of attachment on lands is void for the lack of service of summons, the vendee of the judgment debtor may restrain to the final hearing a sale under the execution or levy; for the vendee should be afforded an opportunity to pay off the judgment if it should finally be held valid, and not forced to take chances of losing the land under a forced sale.
Appeal from. Justice, J., at November Term, 1909, of Hen-DERSON.
Civil action, beard upon motion for injunction until tbe final bearing. Tbe judge dissolved tbe restraining order theretofore issued. Tbe plaintiff appealed.
Brown Shepherd, George A. Shuford and G. F. Toms for-plaintiff. ,
Defendants not represented in tbis Court.

Opinion:
Brown, J.
Tbe plaintiff sues to restrain tbe selling of her-land under execution upon a, judgment rendered by a justice-of tbe peace and docketed in tbe Superior Court of Henderson County in a cause entitled W. 0. Ward v. A. C. Peacock. Plaintiff claims under a deed from said Peacock dated 2 September, 1909.
It appeai-s that on 29 March, 1909, tbe aforesaid action before tbe justice of tbe peace was commenced by issuing a summons returnable 30 March. Tbis summons was not served, as appears by, tbe return on it. A warrant of attachment was issued, returnable 30 March, and on 2 April it Was levied on tbe land by defendant Blackwell, sheriff.
No service of tbe summons or of tbe attachment has ever been made, either personally or by publication, and no publication made. On 30 September, 1909, after plaintiff bad purchased the land and bad ber deed recorded, tbe justice rendered final judgment- against Peacock, although it appears of record that no publication or service of -any kind has been made either of' tbe summons or attachment. Tbe judgment was docketed, execution issued and levied upon tbe land' conveyed to plaintiff and tbe same advertised for sale.
His Honor denied the injunction upon tbe ground that the-proceeding was void on its face. We! agree with him that the- judgment is void, because it appears affirmatively upon the face of the record that no service, personally or by publication, has ever been made, either of the summons or attachment. The proceeding was discontinued before the judgment was rendered. Etheridge v. Woodley, 83 N. C., 11; Best v. British and American Co., 128 N. C., 352; Penniman v. Daniel, 91 N. C., 431; s. c., 93 N. C., 336; Finch v. Slater, ante, 155. To same effect are decisions in other States having statutes similar to ours. Taylor v. Troncoso, 76 N. Y., 599; Dist. Co. v. Ruser, 58 How. Pr., 505; McLaughlin v. Wheeler, 2 S. D., 379; Millar v. Babcock, 29 Mich., 526.
We think, however, his Honor should have restrained the sale, as the plaintiff is entitled to have the question finally determined as to the liability of her land for the judgment, and not be made to take the chance of losing it by forced sale under execution. If her land is liable for the judgment she should have the opportunity to pay it after a judicial determination. This question is fully and lucidly discussed by Mr. Justice Manning in the recent case of Crockett v. Bray, 151 N. C., 617, and need not be further discussed now. Let the injunction issue from the Superior Court of Henderson County enjoining the sale.
Reversed.