Hassell v. Daniels' Roanoke River Line Steamboat Co.

• Decision Date: 24 February 1915
• Docket Number: 68.
• Citation: 84 S.E. 363,168 N.C. 296
• Parties: HASSELL v. DANIELS' ROANOKE RIVER LINE STEAMBOAT CO.
• Court: North Carolina Supreme Court

84 S.E. 363

168 N.C. 296

HASSELL v. DANIELS' ROANOKE RIVER LINE STEAMBOAT CO.

No. 68.

Supreme Court of North Carolina

February 24, 1915

Appeal from Superior Court, Martin County; Ferguson, Judge.

Action by one Hassell against the Daniels' Roanoke River Line Steamboat Company. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals. Affirmed.

A summons issued against and served on an individual agent for a corporation does not confer jurisdiction over the corporation.

This is an action to recover value of a bale of cotton, which was commenced before a justice of the peace and heard on appeal in the superior court. The summons was issued against and served on J. L. Davenport, agent for the Daniels' Roanoke River Line Steamboat Company. Judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff before the justice of the peace, and the defendant appealed.

In the superior court an order was made that the Daniels' Roanoke Steamboat Company be made a party defendant, and said company was entered upon the record as a defendant, but no summons was issued. The case on appeal to this court is entitled Hassell v. Daniels' Roanoke River Line Steamboat Company, and it states that:

The case was tried "on an appeal by defendant from the justice of the peace's court to recover the sum of $60 for the loss of one bale of cotton. The defendant denied owing the plaintiff anything. The pleadings will show the contentions fully of the parties. Before the trial began, the defendant company, through its attorneys, Martin & Martin and B. A. Critcher, made a motion to dismiss the proceedings, and they made a special appearance to make this motion, and same was entered of record, for the reason that no summons has ever been issued against Daniels' Roanoke River Line, and none has ever been served upon the defendant, but summons was only issued and served upon J. L. Davenport, agent. Motion overruled, and exception taken by defendant."

Both parties introduced evidence, and a verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, and judgment entered accordingly from which the defendant appealed.

Martin & Martin and B. A. Critcher, all of Williamston, for appellant.

ALLEN J.

If there was nothing in the record except that summons issued against and was served upon J. L. Davenport, agent for the Daniels' Roanoke River Line Steamboat Company, we would not hesitate to set aside the judgment rendered against the company upon the ground of want...