Court Opinion

ID: 9680700
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 07:36:57.744887+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:30.014844
License: Public Domain

HENLEY, Judge
(dissenting).
I agree with the principal opinion that because summons had not been served on the defendant in replevin (relator-appellant here) the magistrate was without jurisdiction to enter judgment against her and that the judgment is, therefore, void. I agree also that for this reason the judgment must be reversed and the cause re*737manded with directions that the magistrate be directed to set aside the judgment.
However, I do not agree that on the record presented the magistrate should be directed summarily to enter judgment immediately restoring possession of the property to the replevin defendant. To do so assumes that the security instrument or contract between the parties did not give (as we judicially know most do today) the mortgagee the power in event of default to sell the property at public or private sale with or without notice, or that the mortgagee did not exercise that power if it existed, and that mortgagee still has possession. I do not believe we can assume this to be fact. If the mortgagee does not have possession, our replevin statutes1 provide a procedure which will protect the rights of the parties.
There is another reason I would not remand with the directions imposed by the principal opinion. In my opinion, those directions at least ignore rights of the creditor if they do not, in effect, destroy his security.
I would remand with directions (1) that the judgment for plaintiff in replevin be set aside, (2) that said plaintiff be afforded reasonable opportunity to secure service of summons on defendant, and (3) that further proceedings be had in accordance with the replevin statutes of this state.
I respectfully disagree with the majority opinion and agree with the minority in Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U.S. 67, 92 S.Ct. 1983, 32 L.Ed.2d 556. But my disagreement with the majority in that case is of no consequence if it has the force of a declaration of law applicable to all like cases, because I am bound by the supreme law of the land (Article VI, par. 2, Constitution of the United States) as declared by the U.S. Supreme Court. The principal opinion relies in part upon Fuentes, thus indicating that that case is binding on this court. I am not satisfied that we are bound by it. Fuentes was decided by seven of the nine judges of that court, with only four, less than a majority of all judges constituting that court, joining in the decision, and three dissenting therefrom. Others have questioned whether the concurrence of less than a clear majority of all the legally constituted members of the court may do more than decide the case then at hand. The Supreme Court of Arizona recently declined to follow Fuentes in Roofing Wholesale Co., Inc. v. Palmer, 108 Ariz. 508, 502 P.2d 1327, at 1. c. 1331 (1972), saying: “We do not believe, however, that it is unreasonable to ask that before we are required to declare unconstitutional statutes enacted by our legislature with the resulting chaos to an important part of our commercial and contract law, that the United States Supreme Court speak with at least a majority voice on the subject.” I agree fully with what was said by the Supreme Court of Arizona and the concurring opinion of its Chief Justice.
For the above reasons, I respectfully dissent.

. Chapter 533, RSMo 1969, Y.A.M.S.