Case Name: Allred v. Griffith
Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Decision Date: 1928-01-09
Citations: 175 Ark. 926
Docket Number: 
Parties: Allred v. Griffith.
Judges: 
Reporter: Arkansas Reports
Volume: 175
Pages: 926–928

Head Matter:
Allred v. Griffith.
Opinion delivered January 9, 1928.
J. E. Simpson, for appellant.
Festus 0. Butt,lor appellee.

Opinion:
Hart, C. J.,
(after stating the facts). It is conceded by counsel for appellees that the county court had no jurisdiction to try the contest for the adoption of the stock law, and that the circuit court was the proper forum in which to commence such contest. It is insisted by counsel for appellees, however, that, inasmuch as the circuit court had jurisdiction of the subject-matter or cause of action, it could acquire jurisdiction of the persons of appellants by their entering a voluntary appearance to the action in the circuit court. Undoubtedly this is true, and we would have no hesitation in adopting the reasoning of counsel for appellees if it could be said that appellants entered their voluntary appearance to the action in the circuit court and consented to a trial there. In making his contention to that effect, counsel for appellees relies upon the part of the record which we have copied in our statement of facts, and which we need not repeat here. It is claimed by counsel for appellees that that part of the record which shows that, after the court assumed jurisdiction of the case to try it upon its merits, both parties waived formalities, and that the cause was submitted to the court upon an agreed statement of facts showed their voluntary submission to a trial in the circuit court. We do not think so. Appellants excepted to the action of the circuit court in overruling their demurrer to the jurisdiction, and had their exceptions entered of record. We think that all that was meant by the recitation referred to was that, since the court had overruled their demurrer and had assumed jurisdiction to try the case upon the merits, they would waive all formalities and would try the case upon an agreed statement of facts and such other informal evidence as might be agreed between the parties. This was evidently done for the purpose of facilitating the progress of the trial and not for the purpose of entering their appearance to the action.
It is well settled that the circuit court can only acquire such .jurisdiction upon appeal as that possessed by the county court; if the county court was without jurisdiction to try the contest, the circuit court, acquired no jurisdiction on appeal. Price v. Madison County Bank, 90 Ark. 195, 118 S. W. 706.
Therefore it is ordered that the judgment be reversed, and that the cause be dismissed without prejudice as to bringing another action.