Opinion ID: 1633970
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the trial court had the authority to issue a contempt citation against John Mansour, Jr. personally, or only Mansour Shoes, Inc.

Text: The trial court could not issue a contempt citation against John Mansour, Jr. The trial court did not have jurisdiction over John Mansour, Jr. A trial court can acquire jurisdiction over an individual through service of process. Aldridge v. First Nat. Bank, 165 Miss. 1, 14, 144 So. 469, 470 (1932). In addition, a trial court can acquire jurisdiction over the person through his appearance. State ex rel. Moak v. Moore, 373 So.2d 1011, 1012 (Miss. 1979). Without either occurrence, the trial court does not have jurisdiction over the person. Id. It is possible to waive a defect in service of process, and the defense of personal jurisdiction. M.R.C.P. 12(h)(1). See also H & W Transfer & Cartage Service, Inc. v. Griffin, 511 So.2d 895, 901 (Miss. 1987) (asserting objections to venue are waived without objection). However, in this case, there was no service of process on John Mansour, Jr. individually at all. Charmax served notice on Mansour Shoes, Inc.'s agent, Philip Mansour, Jr. At most, the contempt petition itself was the only indication to John Mansour, Jr. that he might personally be liable for contempt. The pivotal question becomes whether the petition constitutes sufficient notice to confer personal jurisdiction absent an answer or appearance by John Mansour, Jr. The existence of personal jurisdiction depends upon reasonable notice to the defendant. Noble v. Noble, 502 So.2d 317, 320 (Miss. 1987), citing Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 313-14, 70 S.Ct. 652, 656-57, 94 L.Ed. 865, 873 (1950). Absent some proof of receipt of summons such reasonableness is questionable. Noble, 502 So.2d at 320. Unless such a defendant made an answer or appearance, the trial court would not have jurisdiction with this type of summons. Id. An affidavit of service upon a party personally is sufficient for reasonable notice. Penton v. Penton, 539 So.2d 1036, 1038 (Miss. 1989). Likewise, an acknowledgment of service by the party is sufficient. Id. Unlike Penton, there is no such proof of summons upon John Mansour, Jr., personally. Like Noble, John Mansour, Jr. made no answer or appearance. Therefore, there was no reasonable notice. As a result, the trial court had no personal jurisdiction over John Mansour, Jr. Mansour Shoes, Inc. had notice in the contempt citation that Charmax Industries, Inc. intended to have both the corporation and John Mansour, Jr. found liable for contempt. As president and shareholder of this corporation, John Mansour, Jr. should have known about Charmax Industries, Inc.'s intent. However, this Court has held that even actual knowledge of a suit does not excuse proper service of process. Brown v. Riley, 580 So.2d 1234, 1237 (Miss. 1991). Complete absence of service of process offends due process and cannot be waived. Edwards v. James, 453 So.2d 684, 686 (Miss. 1984). The trial court judge is correct in asserting that our rules allow a party to enforce a judgment against a third party unnamed in the underlying proceedings. M.R.C.P. 71. However, this Rule requires that the third party is liable to the same process for enforcing obedience to the order as if he were a party. M.R.C.P. 71. As process is required between parties, so it must be between parties and non-parties. [2] Since no service of process at all against John Mansour, Jr. occurred, the trial court had no jurisdiction over him. This Court has recently ruled that defects in procedure impacting on notice are not permissible. Powell v. Powell, 644 So.2d 269, 273-74 (Miss. 1994). This Court will reverse cases featuring summons with such defects. Id. As a result, the trial court could not find John Mansour, Jr. in contempt.