{ "id": 8616384, "name": "G. E. GREEN, Administrator of N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, and MARTHA GREEN CHRISMON, Widow of Said N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, v. A. F. CHRISMON and Wife, LANA CHRISMON; G. T. CHRISMON and Wife, LIZZIE CHRISMON; SALLIE APPLE and Husband, L. A. APPLE; EMMA BROOKS and Husband, J. W. BROOKS; LIZZIE KERNODLE, Widow; RACHEL JANE HALL, Widow; AUBREY CHRISMON and Wife, MARY CHRISMON; MARVIN CHRISMON and Wife, RUTH CHRISMON; BRYANT CHRISMON and Wife, OLLIE CHRISMON; IVIE CHRISMON and Wife, BEULAH CHRISMON; WILLIE CHRISMON and Wife, MAUDE CHRISMON; ANNIE CHRISMON, Single; LORENE CHRISMON, Single; HAROLD KEY and Wife, RUTH KEY; ERVIN KEY and Wife, VERDIE KEY; LILLIAN KEY POWELL and Husband, IRVIN POWELL: RUTH HUFFINES and Husband, FRANK HUFFINES; MADALENE ANDREWS and Husband, ODELL ANDREWS, All of Full Age; EARLINE CHRISMON and ERNALEE CHRISMON, Minors Under the Age of Twenty-one Years", "name_abbreviation": "Green v. Chrismon", "decision_date": "1943-12-15", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "724", "last_page": "729", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "223 N.C. 724" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "221 N. C., 362", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627851 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/221/0362-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 S. E., 978", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 N. C., 209", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11269328 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/147/0209-01" ] }, { "cite": "147 S. E., 729", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "197 N. C., 79", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627171 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/197/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "123 N. C., 19", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657012 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/123/0019-01" ] }, { "cite": "211 N. C., 258", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625994 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/211/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 How., 81", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "How.", "case_ids": [ 3348894 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/47/0081-01" ] }, { "cite": "3 Wall., 46", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Wall.,", "case_ids": [ 3475096 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/70/0046-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 Ga., 596", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 544689 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga/137/0596-01" ] }, { "cite": "262 S. W., 196", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "case_ids": [ 10300657 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw/262/0196-01" ] }, { "cite": "199 S. E., 77", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 N. C., 309", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8630270 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/214/0309-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 S. E., 771", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "196 N. C., 345", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626765 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/196/0345-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 N. C., 179", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "112 S. E., 529", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "183 N. C., 617", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657654 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/183/0617-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S. E., 274", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N. C., 806", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8615058 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0806-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 705, "char_count": 16914, "ocr_confidence": 0.477, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.537750970373404e-07, "percentile": 0.8846403786475582 }, "sha256": "54b0074a8939f5789bdd55e51ab5bef34487aa2b917631f1f41ac8927934a77a", "simhash": "1:ada040346b3e5c4d", "word_count": 2986 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:13:50.990749+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "G. E. GREEN, Administrator of N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, and MARTHA GREEN CHRISMON, Widow of Said N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, v. A. F. CHRISMON and Wife, LANA CHRISMON; G. T. CHRISMON and Wife, LIZZIE CHRISMON; SALLIE APPLE and Husband, L. A. APPLE; EMMA BROOKS and Husband, J. W. BROOKS; LIZZIE KERNODLE, Widow; RACHEL JANE HALL, Widow; AUBREY CHRISMON and Wife, MARY CHRISMON; MARVIN CHRISMON and Wife, RUTH CHRISMON; BRYANT CHRISMON and Wife, OLLIE CHRISMON; IVIE CHRISMON and Wife, BEULAH CHRISMON; WILLIE CHRISMON and Wife, MAUDE CHRISMON; ANNIE CHRISMON, Single; LORENE CHRISMON, Single; HAROLD KEY and Wife, RUTH KEY; ERVIN KEY and Wife, VERDIE KEY; LILLIAN KEY POWELL and Husband, IRVIN POWELL: RUTH HUFFINES and Husband, FRANK HUFFINES; MADALENE ANDREWS and Husband, ODELL ANDREWS, All of Full Age; EARLINE CHRISMON and ERNALEE CHRISMON, Minors Under the Age of Twenty-one Years." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "DeviN, J.\nIs tbe service of a summons on the defendant more than ten days after the date on which it is made returnable sufficient to bring tbe defendant into court, and to render a judgment by default based thereon valid and binding?\nTbe answer to this question must be sought in tbe statutes regulating procedure, as interpreted by this Court. Tbe matter here brought in question arose in a special proceeding. By C. S., 753, it is required tbat special proceedings be commenced by summons, and tbat tbe manner of service shall be tbe same as tbat prescribed for civil actions. It is by this section provided tbat tbe summons shall command tbe defendant to appear and answer tbe petition witbin ten days after service. In civil actions tbe defendant must appear and answer witbin thirty days after service. Common to both forms of action is tbe requirement tbat tbe summons be returned by tbe officer to tbe clerk. In C. S., 476, as amended by cb. 66, Public Laws 1927, is contained this provision: \u201cSummons must be served by tbe sheriff to whom it is addressed for service within ten days after the date of issue. . . . and, if not served within ten days after date of tbe issue upon every defendant, must be returned by the o\u00edSeer holding the same for service, to the clerk of. the court issuing the summons, with notation thereon of its non-service and the reasons therefor as to every defendant not served.\u201d\nSection 480 of Consolidated Statutes regulates what shall be done in case of failure to serve within ten days, as follows: \u201cWhen the defendant in a civil action or special proceeding is not served with summons within the time in which it is returnable, the plaintiff may sue out an alias or pluries summons, returnable in the same manner as original process. An alias or pluries summons may be sued out at any time within ninety (90) days after the date of issue of the next preceding summons in the chain of summonses.\u201d The use of the word \u201cmay\u201d in this statute has been by this Court interpreted to mean \u201cmust,\u201d if the plaintiff wishes to avoid a discontinuance. McGuire v. Lumber Co., 190 N. C., 806, 131 S. E., 274.\nIt seems clear that the rule prescribed by these statutes is that in order to bring a defendant into court and hold him bound by its decree, in the absence of waiver or voluntary appearance, a summons must be issued by the clerk and served upon him by the officer within ten days after date of issue, and that if not served within that time the summons must be returned by the officer to the clerk with proper notation. Then, if the plaintiff wishes to keep his case alive, he must have an alias summons issued. In the event of failure of service within the time prescribed, the original summons loses its vitality. It becomes fundus officio. There is no authority in the statute for the service of that summons on the defendant after the date therein fixed for its return, and if the plaintiff desires the original action continued, he must cause alias summons to be issued and served.\nIn Hatch v. R. R., 183 N. C., 617, 112 S. E., 529, it was said: \u201cAfter the return day the writ lost its vitality and service thereafter made could not confer upon the court jurisdiction over the defendant so served.\u201d While the decision in that case antedated the amendment to the statute now in force, the principle is the same. Manifestly, the court regarded the provision of the statute fixing a definite time for the return of process as mandatory. This statement of the law was quoted 'with approval in McGuire v. Lumber Co., supra.\nAt the time of the decision in the McGuire case referred to (1925), the statute then in force made the summons returnable in not less than ten nor more than twenty days from issuance. The summons in that case was issued 10 July, and made returnable 28 July. It was not served or returned within the time fixed. The Court said: \u201cTherefore, when the plaintiff failed to take any steps, whatever, to sue out an -alias summons on tbe return date, to wit, 28 July, 1925, tbe sheriff of Swain County, having not returned tbe process prior to that time showing whether service had been made or not, a discontinuance resulted as is contemplated in C. S., 480, 481.\u201d\nIn Webster v. Laws, 86 N. C., 179, referring to a summons issued by a justice of the peace, Chief Justice Smith, speaking for the Court, used this language: \u201cThe process not having been served, was exhausted on the day fixed for its return, and the action was in law then discontinued. This has been repeatedly decided in this Court.\u201d\nIn Neely v. Minus, 196 N. C., 345, 145 S. E., 771, the facts were these: The first summons was issued on 29 January, 1927, and kept alive by alias or pluries summons. On 1 September, 1927, a summons marked \u201coriginal\u201d was issued by the clerk and returned \u201cdefendant not to be found.\u201d Thereafter, 13 September, 1927, a pluries summons was issued, and no return made. Thereafter, on 5 October an original summons was issued by the clerk and directed to the sheriff of another county. This was served 8 October. The Court said: \u201cFrom the record facts as set out, there is a clear discontinuance of the cause between 1 September, 1927, and 5 October, 1927.\u201d See also Gower v. Clayton, 214 N. C., 309, 199 S. E., 77, where the ruling upon the facts as stated by Winborne, J., was as follows: \u201cHere, while Mrs. W. M. Friddy was named a party defendant to the tax foreclosure suit, she was not served with original summons. The process was not kept alive by alias and pluries summons as required by statute. C. S., 480. This worked a discontinuance of the action as to her.\u201d\nIn McIntosh Prac. & Proc., 312, 313, the author states the rule as follows: \u201cWhen a definite return day was named in the summons, it was to be served, and the return should show that it was served, before the return day, since the officer must return it on or before the return day named. After the return day has passed, the summons has lost its vitality, and a service would be invalid; but the defect might be cured by a general appearance. ... As has been stated above, after the return day the summons in the hands of the officer has lost its vitality, and a service thereafter is'invalid ...\u201d We find the same general rule stated in 50 C. J., 487, as follows: \u201cAfter the return day, the writ being functus officio, service of it is ineffective. So, where service is returnable to a term of court, its service after the appearance term, without an order extending it, is a nullity, as is service not made within an extension of time ordered by the court.\u201d And from 42 Am. Jur., 26, we quote: \u201cService may not be effected before the commencement of the suit, or after the return day. A writ or process which has not been served and under which nothing has been done expires on the return day, and thereafter confers no authority, unless, by virtue of statute or of some act of the court itself, tbe right of the officer to serve the same is extended. Where the law requires summons to be served a certain number of days before the return day, a service otherwise made is void and confers no jurisdiction over the defendant.\u201d\nA similar statement of the rule is found in other jurisdictions. In Blanton Banking Co. v. Taliaferro, 262 S. W., 196 (Texas Civil Appeals), it was said: \u201cPlaintiff in error contends that the citation became functus officio and void after the return day, and that the service obtained thereunder was void and failed to give the court jurisdiction over defendants, and that the judgment by default rendered against it is a nullity. This contention is correct.\u201d\nIn Hennohe v. Strack, 101 S. W. (2d), 743 (Mo.), after giving approval to the principle that the court can obtain jurisdiction only by service of process in the manner prescribed by the statute, in the absence of waiver or voluntary appearance, the Court said: \u201cService of the writ after the beginning of the term to which it is returnable is no service. The writ in such case is functus officio, dead.\u201d See also Brown v. Tomberlin, 137 Ga., 596, where in the headnote it is said: \u201cMere service of original petition and process on a defendant, made after appearance term of the court to which it is returnable, is a nullity.\u201d\nA clear statement of the rule will be found in the case of Mussina v. Cavazos, 6 Wall. (U. S.), 355, from which we quote: \u201cThe ground of that decision (Castro v. U. S., 3 Wall., 46), and also of the case of Villabolos v. U. S., 6 How., 81, which preceded it, is the general principle, that all writs, which have not been served, and under which nothing has been done, expire on the day to which they were made returnable. They no longer confer any authority; an attempt to act under them is a nullity, and new writs are necessary, if the party wishes to proceed. Hence we have the alias writ, and others in numerical succession indefinitely.\u201d\nConsideration of these statements of the applicable principles of law leads us to the conclusion that the statutes which gave to the court power to adjudicate \"the cause, and to decree a sale of the land which would divest the title of the defendants, also pointed out the manner in which jurisdiction might be obtained and the procedure by which the defendants should be bound and their title barred, and that unless this were followed, the power of the court to order a valid sale would be lacking. The right of the plaintiff to the relief sought must wait on the orderly procedure by which it is to be judicially determined.\nThe cases cited by plaintiff may not be held controlling on the facts of this case. In Nall v. McConnell, 211 N. C., 258, and Stafford v. Gallops, 123 N. C., 19, where judgments were entered within ten days of the service of the summons, it was held that the irregularity was not fatal as the defendants in those cases had been duly served, and the clerk was not bound to dismiss the action, but should allow the statutory time for appearance.\nIn Morrison v. Lewis, 197 N. C., 79, 147 S. E., 729, the action in \u2018Guilford was dismissed on the ground that there was another suit for the same cause between the same parties pending in Surry. It appeared that in the Surry suit the summons, though issued before the one in Guilford, was served after the return date. But it was held that, nothing else appearing, the action was regarded as pending from the time the summons left the clerk\u2019s office for the purpose of being served. In that case it was said in the opinion by Chief Justice Stacy: \u201cOf course, if the summons be not served on or before the day fixed for its return, a discontinuance of the action results therefrom. Neely v. Minus, 196 N. C., 345. And if a discontinuance be worked by failure to serve the summons by the return date, and not until that time, it would seem to follow that the action was pending from the time the summons left the clerk\u2019s hands for the purpose of being served.\u201d\nIn Vick v. Flournoy, 147 N. C., 209, 60 S. E., 978, it was held that the absence of a seal on a summons to be served out of the county would not be fatal when the defendants were properly served and thus had lawful notice of the action. It was said: \u201cIf the officer has acted without it, the absence of a seal is only an irregularity, which may be cured now by having the seal affixed.\u201d\nWhile the summons in this case was attempted to be served on the defendants more than thirty days after the date of its issuance and they thus had actual knowledge of the proceeding, this alone may not be held sufficient to bind them. There was neither waiver nor voluntary appearance. The defendants had the right to rely on the invalidity of the service. However, subsequently, notice to show cause why the original decree should not be confirmed and the service of summons adjudged sufficient was duly served on the defendants, and some of them answered. Thus it would seem that all \"the defendants are now in court. While this would not have the effect of validating the original decree which was rendered without proper service, Monroe v. Niven, 221 N. C., 362, 20 S. E. (2d), 311, it is open to the defendants to set up such defenses, and equally to the plaintiffs to file such pleas as they may be advised are proper in the premises.\nAs the court below declined to rule on the question of equitable estoppel raised by movant, holding that the only question presented was the sufficiency of the service of the original summons, it is still open to the plaintiffs to show facts which would support such a plea.\nOn the record the judgment of the Superior Court must be\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "DeviN, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Hoyle & Hoyle and Glidewell \u25a0& Glidewell for plaintiff, appellant.", "Sharp & Sharp and Henderson & Henderson for defendants, appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "G. E. GREEN, Administrator of N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, and MARTHA GREEN CHRISMON, Widow of Said N. J. CHRISMON, Deceased, v. A. F. CHRISMON and Wife, LANA CHRISMON; G. T. CHRISMON and Wife, LIZZIE CHRISMON; SALLIE APPLE and Husband, L. A. APPLE; EMMA BROOKS and Husband, J. W. BROOKS; LIZZIE KERNODLE, Widow; RACHEL JANE HALL, Widow; AUBREY CHRISMON and Wife, MARY CHRISMON; MARVIN CHRISMON and Wife, RUTH CHRISMON; BRYANT CHRISMON and Wife, OLLIE CHRISMON; IVIE CHRISMON and Wife, BEULAH CHRISMON; WILLIE CHRISMON and Wife, MAUDE CHRISMON; ANNIE CHRISMON, Single; LORENE CHRISMON, Single; HAROLD KEY and Wife, RUTH KEY; ERVIN KEY and Wife, VERDIE KEY; LILLIAN KEY POWELL and Husband, IRVIN POWELL: RUTH HUFFINES and Husband, FRANK HUFFINES; MADALENE ANDREWS and Husband, ODELL ANDREWS, All of Full Age; EARLINE CHRISMON and ERNALEE CHRISMON, Minors Under the Age of Twenty-one Years.\n(Filed 15 December, 1943.)\n1. Pi\u2019ocess \u00a7 2\u2014\nThe rule of the statutes is that, in order to bring a defendant into court and hold him bound by its decree, in the absence of waiver or voluntary appearance, a summons must be issued by the clerk and served upon him by the officer within ten days after date of issue; and that, if not served within that time, the summons must be returned, with proper notation, and alias or pluries summons issued and served in accordance with the statute, otherwise the original summons loses its vitality and becomes functus officio -and void. C. S., 476, 480, 481, 753.\n2. Same\u2014\nAn alias or pluries summons, C. S., 480, must be served within ninety days after the date of issue of the next preceding summons in the chain of summonses, if the plaintiff wishes to avoid a discontinuance. The word \u201cmay\u201d in this statute means \u201cmust.\u201d\n3. Process \u00a7 3\u2014\nWhere summons was not served, on defendants until after ten days of its issuance, a discontinuance resulting, and a decree made in the cause, based on the invalid service; and subsequently, notice to show cause why such decree should not be confirmed and such service adjudged sufficient was duly served on defendants, and some of them answered, it would appear that all defendants are now in court and the matter may proceed on proper pleas.\nAppeal by G-. E. Green, administrator of Martha Green Chrismon, from Bobbitt, J., at May Term, 1943, of Guileoed.\nAffirmed.\nPlaintiff, administrator of Martha Green Chrismon, filed petition and motion in the cause for confirmation of the judgment previously rendered in a proceeding between the parties, and for-adjudication that the service of the summons on the defendants in that proceeding was sufficient.\nTbe facts pertinent to tbe issue involved may be summarized as follows : In 1940 G. E. Green, administrator of N. J. Cbrismon, filed petition to sell land to make assets to pay debts. Tbe beirs of tbe intestate were made parties defendant. It was admitted tbat tbe summons was issued and delivered to plaintiff for service 15 August, 1940, received by tbe sheriff 21 September, and served on twenty-four of tbe defendants 23 September, 1940. None of tbe defendants were served witbin ten days of issuance of summons. No answer was filed or appearance made except by guardian ad litem of two infant defendants. Decree of sale was entered 2 December, 1940, and thereafter sale confirmed and deed delivered 20 January, 1941. Tbe title of tbe purchaser at tbe sale, who was Martha Green Cbrismon, and tbat of her administrator and beirs now claiming under her, was thereafter questioned by a prospective purchaser, and thereupon G. E. Green, her administrator and heir, served notice on tbe defendants to show cause why tbe original judgment should not be confirmed and tbe service of summons on them adjudged to have been sufficient. Defendants, answering tbe motion, alleged tbat tbe service was invalid and tbe order of sale void. From an adverse ruling of tbe clerk, tbe defendants appealed to tbe judge of tbe Superior Court, who held tbat tbe attempted service of tbe summons on tbe defendants was a nullity, and tbat tbe judgment decreeing tbe sale was void.\nFrom judgment denying bis motion and dismissing bis petition, plaintiff, administrator of Martha Green Cbrismon, appealed.\nHoyle & Hoyle and Glidewell \u25a0& Glidewell for plaintiff, appellant.\nSharp & Sharp and Henderson & Henderson for defendants, appellees." }, "file_name": "0724-01", "first_page_order": 776, "last_page_order": 781 }