Polk v. Foster

Supreme Court of Iowa

Polk v. Foster

32 N.W. 7, 71 Iowa 26

DecidedMarch 4, 1887

StatusPublished

This text of 32 N.W. 7 (Polk v. Foster) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Polk v. Foster, 32 N.W. 7, 71 Iowa 26 (iowa 1887).

Pincite

Opinion

Adams, Ch. J.

The appellees raise upon the threshold a a question of jurisdiction. They insist that no appeal has been taken to this court. The fact appears to be that notice of appeal was served upon the clerk of the court and upon the county auditor, but not upon the defendants, vmless service upon the county auditor was service upon them. Section 3178 of the Code provides that service may be made upon the agent of a party, and the plaintiffs’ position is that the [27]*27county auditor is agent of the board of supervisors. They rely updh the fact that he keeps the records of the board, (Code, § 320;) that, in the location of a highway, he is charged with specific duties, (Code, §§ 924, 934, 944, 949, 961;) and that, in suits against the county, it is expressly provided that service of notice may be made upon him. But, in our opinion, he cannot properly be considered as the agent of the board, either in keeping the records, or in discharging the duties imposed upon him by statute in the establishment of a highway. In whatever lie does, he acts as a public officer. He is not appointed by the board, nor discharged by it, nor is he subject to its control in the performance of his duties. The express provision made in section 2610 of the Code, that, in an action against a county, service upon the county may be made by service upon the auditor, does not aid the plaintiffs, unless these proceedings can be regarded as an action against the county, and, in our opinion, they cannot. The papers do not show that any one is made defend'ant but the members of the board. It is not the county that is charged with having acted illegally, nor has the county become liable even for costs. Having reached this conclusion, it is not important nor proper that we should express an opinion upon the merits of the case. We might be allowed to say that we reach the conclusion that the appeal must be dismissed with less regret, because a majority of the court are inclined strongly to think that the matters complained of are mere irregularities, and not of such a character as to entitle the plaintiffs to a judgment in their favor, annulling the action of the board.

The appeal must be

Dismissed.

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Adams, Ch. J.

The appellees raise upon the threshold a a question of jurisdiction. They insist that no appeal has been taken to this court. The fact appears to be that notice of appeal was served upon the clerk of the court and upon the county auditor, but not upon the defendants, vmless service upon the county auditor was service upon them. Section 3178 of the Code provides that service may be made upon the agent of a party, and the plaintiffs’ position is that the [27]*27county auditor is agent of the board of supervisors. They rely updh the fact that he keeps the records of the board, (Code, § 320;) that, in the location of a highway, he is charged with specific duties, (Code, §§ 924, 934, 944, 949, 961;) and that, in suits against the county, it is expressly provided that service of notice may be made upon him. But, in our opinion, he cannot properly be considered as the agent of the board, either in keeping the records, or in discharging the duties imposed upon him by statute in the establishment of a highway. In whatever lie does, he acts as a public officer. He is not appointed by the board, nor discharged by it, nor is he subject to its control in the performance of his duties. The express provision made in section 2610 of the Code, that, in an action against a county, service upon the county may be made by service upon the auditor, does not aid the plaintiffs, unless these proceedings can be regarded as an action against the county, and, in our opinion, they cannot. The papers do not show that any one is made defend'ant but the members of the board. It is not the county that is charged with having acted illegally, nor has the county become liable even for costs. Having reached this conclusion, it is not important nor proper that we should express an opinion upon the merits of the case. We might be allowed to say that we reach the conclusion that the appeal must be dismissed with less regret, because a majority of the court are inclined strongly to think that the matters complained of are mere irregularities, and not of such a character as to entitle the plaintiffs to a judgment in their favor, annulling the action of the board.

The appeal must be

Dismissed.

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Bluebook (online)

32 N.W. 7, 71 Iowa 26, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/polk-v-foster-iowa-1887.