Sarchet v. Phillips, 14327.

• Decision Date: 02 May 1938
• Docket Number: 14327.
• Parties: SARCHET v. PHILLIPS.
• Court: Colorado Supreme Court

78 P.2d 1096

102 Colo. 318

SARCHET v. PHILLIPS.

No. 14327.

Supreme Court of Colorado, En Banc.

May 2, 1938

Error to Larimer County Court; Albert P. Fischer, Judge.

Action by Dora Phillips against J. C. Sarchet for money had and received for plaintiff's use. To review a judgment for plaintiff, defendant brings error.

Judgment reversed, and action dismissed.

Arthur E. March, of Fort Collins, for plaintiff in error.

Will E S. Thompson, of Fort Collins, for defendant in error.

HILLIARD Justice.

An action by defendant in error, plaintiff at trial, against plaintiff in error, defendant at trial, for money had and received, as said, for plaintiff's use. Recovery was adjudged.

It appears that defendant was a justice of the peace; that November 5, 1937, on a note dated January 15, 1937, given by plaintiff, 'suit was brought' Before defendant, as he alleges, or the note was 'filed' with him, as plaintiff alleges, and formally docketed by the justice as a case pending in his court; that summons was not issued in the matter, but simultaneously with such docketing, a member of the Colorado Bar, proceeding by a writing to that end, and pursuant to a provision of the note, reading 'Makers and endorsers hereon hereby authorize and empower any attorney at law, at any time, to appear for them Before any court in Colorado or elsewhere and waive the issuance and service of process and confess judgment against them and in favor of the payee * * * or assigns,' appeared Before the justice and expressly waived 'the issuance and service of process,' and confessed 'judgment against said defendant and in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $115.85'; that upon such confession the justice entered judgment against defendant in favor of plaintiff in the proceeding, in the sum confessed, and costs; that execution issued on the judgment, in aid of which writ of garnishment was served that the garnishee answered he was indebted to the judgment debtor in the sum of $312.35, which amount was paid into the justice court; that the justice still has the money, and in the sum mentioned judgment was given against him in the present proceeding.

The question is: Did the justice have jurisdiction to enter the judgment which is sought to be challenged here? We think so. Since the action was for debt and in a sum not exceeding $300, the justice had jurisdiction of the subject matter. ' 35 C.S.A., c. 96, §§ 6, 7. But inasmuch as summons was not issued by the justice, it is argued that jurisdiction of the person of the defendant failed. Section 16, chapter 96 '35 C.S.A., which provides that suit Before a justice 'shall be commenced by summons,' is cited in support of that view. The answer is that in an action begun Before a justice of the peace, there may be 'waiver of all defects in the service of process, or even the want of process.' Stephens v. Wheeler, 60 Colo. 351, 356, 153 P. 444 446. 'Whenever a court has jurisdiction of...