Gross v. Nichols, Shepard & Co.

33 N.W. 653, 72 Iowa 239

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: June 28, 1887
• Status: Published

Opinion

Adam, Ch. J.

-The defendant is a corporation organized under the laws of Michigan. The original notice in the case was served upon one T. Anthony, upon the theory that he was the agent of the company located at Sibley, in the county, where the action was brought. After default was taken, and judgment rendered thereon, the defendant filed a motion to set aside the judgment and default, upon the. ground, as alleged, that no notice bad been served opon it. Tlie defendant contends that Anthony was not the agent of the company, and, even if he were, that service on him would not bind the company.

The fact appears to be that the defendant, in February 1885, entered into a written contract, with Anthony, whereby it agreed that until November 1, 1885, it would furnish him with threshing machines, horse-powers, engines, etc., to be sold on commission. The action was brought December 26, 1885, nearly two months after the expiration of the time during which defendant was to furnish him the machinery. But Anthony had still some property in his hands unsold, which had been furnished him under the contract; and.it does not appear that he had been finally settled with or discharged. It appears to us that Anthony became the agent of the company, and, though the time for furnishing machines to hitn had expired, yet, as some of the property furnished was still in his hands, the agency had not expired.

Taking him, then, to be still the agent of the company, we come to the question as to whether service upon him was service upon the company. Section 2613 of the Code provides that, “when a corporation, company or individual has, for the transaction of any business, an office or agency in any county other than that in which the principal resides, service may be made on any agent or clerk employed in such office or agency, in all actions growing out of or connected with the business of that office or agency.” This action was brought to recover upon a breach of warranty of a machine sold to plaintiff by the defendant through its agent, Anthony, at Sibley.

The defendant contends, however, that the statute does not apply to a foreign corporation, but to a corporation residing in some other county of Iowa. This, it is contended, is implied from the words, “ any county other than that in which the principal resides.” But we do not think that the defendant’s position can be sustained. There is nothing in the words used to prevent ns from construing the section as meaning that service upon the principal may be made by service upon the agent, when the principal resides elsewhere than in the county of the agency. The courts, we think, have invariably put this construction upon the section, and we see no good reason to think it is not correct.

Affirmed.