Tonella v. Kaufman

43 N.W.2d 911, 328 Mich. 412, 1950 Mich. LEXIS 367
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 11, 1950
DocketDocket 55, Calendar 44,738
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 43 N.W.2d 911 (Tonella v. Kaufman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tonella v. Kaufman, 43 N.W.2d 911, 328 Mich. 412, 1950 Mich. LEXIS 367 (Mich. 1950).

Opinion

North, J.

Decision herein necessitates determination of whether Bernard P. Barasa, Sr., a licensed practicing attorney in Illinois, was also licensed to practice law in this State at the time the summons was issued and served on defendants in this suit. So far as essential to decision the factual background may be stated as follows:

*414 This action was commenced July 19, 1949, in the circuit court for Marquette county, Michigan, by issuance of a summons with copy of the declaration attached when served. The declaration was signed only by plaintiff. However the names and addresses of her attorneys appeared on the outside cover of the declaration, but they were not there designated as attorneys for plaintiff. Plaintiff did not comply with CL 1948, § 613.1 (Stat Ann § 27.731), which provides in part, “but the plaintiff in his declaration, and the defendant in his plea, shall state the name of the attorney or attorneys by whom they respectively appear.” On the face of the declaration plaintiff’s suit would appear to be brought in her own proper person. The summons when issued was subscribed with the names of Bernard P. Barasa, Sr., and Samuel A. Rinella, both of Chicago, Illinois, as attorneys for plaintiff. Service by an undersheriff was made on defendants July 19, 1949. Mr. Rinella was not, and apparently never has been, licensed to practice law in Michigan. Mr. Barasa was licensed to practice law, on motion, in this State on October 6, 1910, by the Michigan Supreme Court. He was not then and at no time since 1905 has been a resident of this State. At the time of commencement of suit his business address was in Chicago, Illinois, where he was associated with Mr. Rinella in the practice of law. Since his admission to the Michigan bar in 1910, Mr. Barasa has tried cases in the courts of this State on different occasions, but not for a number of years next preceding the institution of the instant suit. The record contains no evidence that he ever maintained an office in this State for the practice of law, and he makes no claim that he has. Instead at the time this suit was started his business address was given as “Suite 405, One North LaSalle Street, Chicago 2, Illinois.”

*415 On July 28, 1949, defendants by their attorney appeared specially and moved to quash the summons and service thereof, and to dismiss the action, on the ground that neither Mr. Barasa nor Mr. Rinella was a member of the State bar of Michigan at the time of commencement of suit, and therefore did not have the “legal right, power or authority” to cause the summons to be issued, or to represent the plaintiff as attorneys within this State.

Subsequently to defendants’ motion to quash being-filed and on August 17, 1949, Mr. Barasa applied to the executive secretary of the State bar association for registration as an active member of the State bar of Michigan, tendering at the same time his annual dues for the years 1948 and 1949. In due course and prior to the hearing of defendants’ motion, Mr. Barasa was so registered, and was issued an active membership card showing his dues were paid to December 31,1949.

On September 6,1949, defendants’ motion to quash and dismiss was argued in the Marquette circuit court. While the hearing was somewhat informal, Mr. Barasa’s admission in 1910 to practice law in this State, a current State bar of Michigan active membership card, and a certificate of the Michigan Supreme Court dated November 16, 1948, that Mr. Barasa was admitted to practice law in Michigan October 6, 1910, “and that he is now and has been ever since his said admission in good standing as such,” were made known to the trial court by exhibits offered and received in evidence. After hearing the respective attorneys and taking the motion under advisement, the circuit judge, on the ground that neither of the attorneys who subscribed the summons (which was not signed by plaintiff) was entitled to practice law in this State, granted the motion to quash the summons and to vacate service thereof, but denied defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiff’s *416 suit. Prom the order entered accordingly, plaintiff has appealed in the nature of certiorari. At no time in the course of the proceedings in this case does it appear that either Mr. Barasa or Mr. Rinella made an application to he permitted to practice in the trial of this particular case, as provided in CL 1948, § 601.49 (Stat Ann § 27.69).

Mr. Barasa’s admission to the practice of law in this State on October 6, 1910, was under PA 1895, No 205, as amended by PA 1897, No 93. The statute then provided:

“Sec. 2. Practicing attorneys residents of other States and Territories, or from foreign countries, may be admitted on motion to try cases in any of the courts of this State by such courts, but shall not be admitted to the general practice of law in this State without complying with the provisions of this act: Provided, That where the applicant shall furnish the Supreme Court a certificate of admission to practice in the court of last resort of any State in the union, or a certificate of admission to any circuit.or district court of the United States, together with the recommendation of one of the judges of the court of last resort of such State, said Supreme Court may, in its discretion, if satisfied as to his qualifications, admit such person to practice on motion made by some member of the bar of said court.”

At that time (1895) the statute did not require residence or maintenance of an office in this State as a condition of being admitted to the practice of law in Michigan. No statute was passed prior to PA 1935, No 58 (CL 1948, § 691.51 et seq. [Stat Ann § 27.101 et seq.]), which affected Mr. Barasa’s status as an attorney licensed to practice law in Michigan. In so stating we are mindful of PA 1913, No 163 (particularly section 2), and PA 1915, No 314 (particularly chapter 1, § 50), which to some extent modified the law governing the admission to practice *417 law in this State. For like provisions see CL 1948, § 601.50 (Stat Ann § 27.70).

But the pertinent question remains as to whether under PA 1935, No 58 (CL 1948, §§ 691.51, 691.52), which is entitled: “An act to create the State bar of Michigan; and to authorize the Supreme Court to provide for the organization, regulation and rules of government thereof,” and the rules governing the Michigan State bar association as adopted by the Supreme Court effective December 2, 1935 (See 273 Mich, p xxxv, et seq.), there were imposed upon Mr. Barasa certain requirements as to registration as a condition of his continuing in the status of an attorney licensed to practice in the courts of Michigan. PA 1935, No 58, § 2, provides:

“The Supreme Court is hereby authorized * # * to provide rules and regulations concerning the conduct and activities of the association and its members.”

Sections 2 and 3 of the Michigan State bar rules adopted by the Supreme Court read:

“Sec. 2. Those persons who on December 2, 1935, are licensed to practice law in this State, and those who shall thereafter become licensed to practice law in this State, shall, subject to the provisions of these rules, constitute the membership of the State bar of Michigan.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

People v. Fett
666 N.W.2d 676 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2003)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
43 N.W.2d 911, 328 Mich. 412, 1950 Mich. LEXIS 367, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tonella-v-kaufman-mich-1950.