Blackburn v. Alpena Circuit Judge

• Decision Date: 15 March 1904
• Citation: 136 Mich. 48,98 N.W. 754
• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Parties: BLACKBURN v. ALPENA CIRCUIT JUDGE.

98 N.W. 754

136 Mich. 48

BLACKBURN v. ALPENA CIRCUIT JUDGE.

Supreme Court of Michigan

March 15, 1904

Mandamus on the relation of William A. Blackburn against Alpena circuit judge to compel respondent to strike an amended declaration from the files. Writ denied.

Joseph H. Cobb, for relator.

Charles R. Henry (Robert J. Kelley, of counsel), for respondent.

GRANT, J.

The relator is defendant in a suit decided by this court March 30, 1903, and reported in 94 N.W. 24. After that decision, holding that the action was single, and could not be split, the circuit judge, on motion of the plaintiff's attorney, permitted an amendment to the declaration, allowing the plaintiff to continue the action in the name of herself as survivor of herself and George N. Blackburn, her deceased husband. The relator now asks the writ of mandamus to compel the respondent to strike this amended declaration from the files. It was a former practice of this court to dispose of questions of this character in mandamus proceedings. The counsel for relator cites several such cases. The practice, however, was settled in St. Clair Tunnel Co. v. St. Clair Circuit Judge, 114 Mich. 417, 72 N.W. 249, wherein it was held that, although the amendment set up a new and different cause of action, it would not be reviewed by mandamus. We followed that case in City of Detroit v. Wayne Circuit Judge, 125 Mich. 634, 85 N.W. 1, where the claim was that the amendment introduced a new and different cause of action, barred by the statute of limitations. Counsel for relator concedes that these cases are decisive against his contention that mandamus is the proper remedy, and asks that we return to the former practice. The reason why mandamus should not be resorted to in these rpoceedings is sufficiently stated in St. Clair Tunnel Co. v. St. Clair Circuit Judge. We have followed that decision for more than six years, and see no occasion now to depart from it. If the amendment is not within the statute of amendments, the defendant may, as in case of demurrer, stand upon his objection, allow judgment to pass against him, and raise the question by writ of error. If he has not sufficient confidence in his objection to stand upon it, it is no injustice to require him to plead and stand trial upon the merits.

The writ is denied. The other Justices concurred.