Murray v. Wilcox

64 L.R.A. 534, 122 Iowa 188
Supreme Court of Iowa·Decided January 16, 1904·Published·Cited by 24 cases

Opinion

Laud, J.

-The immunity from service of civil process of a witness while attending a trial in a state other than 'that of his residence to give evidence seems to be universally recognized. The privilege protects him in coming, in staying, and in returning, if he acts in good faith, and without unreasonable delay. Sherman v. Gundlauch, 37 Minn. 118 (33 N. W. Rep. 549); Mitchell v. Wixon, 53 Mich. 541 (19 N. W. Rep. 176); Thompson's Case, 122 Mass. 428 (23 Am. Rep. 370); Person v. Grier, 66 N. Y. 124 (23 Am. Rep. 35). See note to Mullen v. Sanborn, 79 Md. 364 (25 L. R. A. 721). As to whether a party is entitled to a like exemption there is some conflict in the authorities. In Bishop v. Vose, 27 Conn. 1, the defendant, a resident of another state, had come to Connecticut to attend the trial of a case which he had caused to be brought, and he was held not exempt from the service of summons; but in Machine Co. v. Wilson (C. C.) 22 Fed. Rep. 803; [190] Machine Co. v. Wilson, 51 Conn. 595—it was decided otherwise as to a nonresident defendant whose attendance was necessary both as a witness and to instruct his counsel, the reason for the distinction being that a plaintiff having sought the aid of the courts of another state ought not to shrink from being subjected to their control, while the attendance of the defendant maybe said to be compulsory. In Baldwin v. Emerson, 16 R. I. 304 (15 Atl. Rep. 83, 27 Am. St. Rep. 741), however, this distinction was disregarded, and the reason for exempting either a plaintiff or a defendant in a civil action, because of being a nonresident, from service of summons, was declared “fanciful, rather than substantial.” See, also, Ellis v. DeGarmo, 17 R. I. 715 (24 Atl. Rep. 579, 19 L. R. A. 561). But a different view has been taken by the great weight of authority, declaring both party and witness alike entitled to the privilege. First National Bank v. Ames, 39 Minn. 179 (39 N. W. Rep. 308); Shaver v. Letherby, 73 Mich. 500 (41 N. W. Rep. 677); Fisk v. Westover, 4 S. D. 233 (55 N. W. Rep. 961, 46 Am. St. Rep. 780); In re Healy, 53 Vt. 694 (38 Am. Rep. 713); Andrews v. Lembeck, 46 Ohio St. 38 (18 N. E. Rep. 483, 15 Am. St. Rep. 547); Matthews v. Tufts, 87 N. Y. 568; Wilson v. Donaldson 117 Ind. 356 (20 N. E. Rep. 250, 3 L. R. A. 266, 10 Am. St. Rep. 48); Halsey v. Stewart, 4 N. J. Law, 367.

As a party may testify in his own behalf in this state, there is no room for the distinction made between parties and witnesses, save possibly as suggested in the Connecticut cases. The reasons for exemption from service of process have been so often stated that repetition seems superfluous. They relate to the free and unhampered administration of justice in our courts, and are as applicable to service of summons or original notice as the beginning of an action by arrest on civil process under the old common-law practice. Said Elliott, J., in Wilson v. Donaldson, supra, concerning the exemption: “It is his privilege» [191] under our laws, to testify in bis own behalf; and this privilege should not be burdened with the hazard of defending other actions in our forums. Our own citizens will often derive a substantial benefit from the personal appearance of a nonresident defendant, since it may enable them to obtain a jjersonal judgment which else were impossible. If citizens of other states are allowed to come into our jurisdiction to attend court as parties or witnesses} and to freely depart from it, the administration of justice will be best promoted, since a defendant’s personal presence is often essential to enable his counsel to justly conduct his defense. The principle of state comity, too, demands that a citizen of another state, who submits to the jurisdiction of our courts, and here wages his forensic contest, should not be compelled to do so under the limitation and obligation of submitting to the jurisdiction of our courts in every case that may be brought against him. While coming and departing, as well as while actually in necessary attendance at court, he should be free from the hazard of being compelled to answer in other actions. It is an evidence of respect for our laws and confidence in our courts that he comes here to litigate, and the laws he respects should give him protection. If he can come only under the penalty of yielding to our jurisdiction in every action that may be brought against him, he is deprived of a substantial right, because he is willing to trust our courts and laws without removing his case to the federal courts, or refusing to put himself in a position where personal judgment may be rendered against him. High considerations of public policy require that the law should encourage him to freely enter our forums by granting immunity from processs iff^other civil actions, and not discourage him by burdening him with the obligation to submit to the writs of our courts if he comes within our borders.” See, also, excerpts from numerous decisions collected in note to 25 L. R. A. 721. Of course, there may [192] be exceptions, as Mullan v. Sanborn, supra, where a plaintiff in an attachment suit came from another state to testify, and. was held not to be privileged from the service of summons while therein an action for maliciously bring;, ing the attachment suit. Having resorted to this drastic remedy, the equal administration of justice seemed to demand recoupment of the resulting damages in the same jurisdiciton. ,

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Murray v. Wilcox, 64 L.R.A. 534, 122 Iowa 188 (iowa 1904).

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