Woodworth v. Maddox

223 P. 275, 115 Kan. 445, 1924 Kan. LEXIS 264
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedFebruary 9, 1924
DocketNo. 24,981
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 223 P. 275 (Woodworth v. Maddox) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Woodworth v. Maddox, 223 P. 275, 115 Kan. 445, 1924 Kan. LEXIS 264 (kan 1924).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Harvey, J.:

We shall speak of the parties as they appeared in the court below. This proceeding was initiated by the plaintiff filing in justice court the following bill of particulars (omitting formal parts):

“The plaintiff complains of the defendant and for his cause of action herein states: That he is the legal and equitable owner of the following described personal property, to-wit: One movable house situated on lot 24, block 40 in the City of Florence, Marion County, Kansas. One movable garage situated on lot 26, block 40, in the City of Florence, Marion County, Kansas. That said plaintiff purchased the above personal property on the 30th day of July, 1921, at a constable’s sale in the city of Florence, Kansas. That said defendant at the time of said sale was in possession of said premises, and still remains in the same. That on the 6th day of August, 1921, plaintiff did cause a written [446]*446thirty-day notice to quit served upon the said defendant, a copy of said notice being herewith attached, marked Exhibit ‘A’ and made a part of this bill of particulars and complaint. That more than three days prior to the commencement of this action this plaintiff caused to be served upon the said defendant a written notice to quit or suit would be brought to evict, a copy of said notice being herewith attached marked Exhibit ‘B’ and made a part of this bill of particulars and complaint. That the said defendant still fails and refuses to vacate said property and now does by violence and force keep this plaintiff out of possession of the same, all to his damage in the sum of $75.00.
“Wherefore, plaintiff demands judgment against the said defendant that he have restitution of the said property and that he recover of said defendant the sum of $75.00, his damage herein sustained, and for costs of this action.”

This was verified. Attached thereto as exhibits “A” and “B” were copies of the following notices with proof of service by the constable:

“To Lee Maddock Exhibit'“A”
“Having bought by sale of court the three-room house and garage at 124 East 8th St., Florence, Kansas, you are hereby notified to vacate same (the above described premises) on or before thirty days from date hereof.
J. D. Woodworth.”
“To Lee Maddock Exhibit “B”
“You are hereby notified to vacate the following described premises, to-wit: lots 22-24 & 26 Block 40, City of Florence, Marion County, Kansas, on or before the 28th day of Sept. 1921 or suit will be brought to evict you.
J. D. Woodworth, Owner."

Upon the filing of this bill of particulars a summons was issued, the body of which is worded as follows:

“You are commanded to summon Lee Maddox to appear before me, the undersigned Justice of the Peace, at my office in City of Marion, Kansas, on the 6th day of October, 1921, at 3 o’clqck p.m., to answer the action of J. D. Woodworth for a judgment against said defendant for $75.00 damages, and restitution of certain personal property situated on lot 24, Block 40, and situated on lot 26, Block 40, all in City of Florence, Kansas. And then and there return this writ.”

The defendant did not appear in justice court and judgment was rendered against him by default. He appealed and in the district court filed the following motion:

“Now comes the defendant and moves the court to dismiss this action for want of jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action, for the reason that no replevin affidavit was filed in this action and for the further reason that no replevin undertaking was filed in this action.”

This motion was overruled and the case went to trial to the court and jury. The plaintiff relied upon a purchase of the prop[447]*447erty at a constable’s sale in an action previously brought by a lumber company against this defendant, and offered in evidence the justice docket of that case.

The defendant admitted that the notices, copies of which were attached to the bill of particulars, were served upon him, and admitted that he was in possession of the house and garage, but denied that he was -unlawfully detaining them. The court instructed the jury to return a verdict for plaintiff for the possession of the property in question. The verdict was returned and judgment was rendered accordingly.

The defendant has appealed and complains of the order of the court overruling his motion to dismiss, and complains of the instruction and judgment of the court.

We must first determine what kind of an action this is. It was brought in justice court, a court without jurisdiction in equity cases. (Berroth v. McElvain, 41 Kan. 269, 20 Pac. 850; 24 Cyc. 477), and with such jurisdiction in actions at law only as is given it by statute. (Sims v. Kennedy, 67 Kan. 383, 73 Pac. 51; 24 Cyc. 440.) Some of the language of the bill of particulars and the notices attached thereto indicate an action for forcible detainer, but it is for the possession of restitution of a movable house and garage which plaintiff averred is personal property he had purchased at a constable’s sale. The action of forcible detainer lies for the possession of real property. (R. S. 61-1301.) It cannot be maintained for the possession of personal property. (26 C. J. 802.) Some of the language in the bill of particulars indicates it was an action in replevin for the possession of personal property, and the instruction given upon the trial in the district court shows that the court so considered it, but no replevin affidavit was filed nor replevin bond given. The statute confers jurisdiction upon justices of the peace of actions for the recovery of specific personal property not exceeding $300 in value (R. S. 61-501), and provides (61-502):

“An action for this purpose shall not be brought until there is filed in the office of the justice an affidavit of the plaintiff, his agent or attorney, showing — First. A description of the property claimed. Second. That the plaintiff is the owner thereof, or has a special ownership therein, stating the facts in relation thereto, and that he is entitled to the immediate possession of the property. Third. That the property is wrongfully detained by the defendant. Fourth. That it was not taken in execution on any order or judgment against said plaintiff, or if so taken on execution that it is by statute exempt from seizure, or for the payment of any tax, fine or amercement assessed against him, or by virtue of an order of delivery issued under this article, or [448]*448any other mesne or final process against said plaintiff. And, Fifth. The actual value of the property. When several articles are claimed, the value of each article shall be stated as nearly as practicable.”

This affidavit is necessary to give a justice of the peace jurisdic-. tion of the subject matter in a replevin action. In 22 Standard Proc. 890, it is said:

“In most jurisdictions the filing of an affidavit substantially complying with the requirements of the statute is necessary to invest the justice with jurisdiction to entertain the action and issue the writ.”

In 18 Enc. Pl. & Pr. 511, it is said:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
223 P. 275, 115 Kan. 445, 1924 Kan. LEXIS 264, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/woodworth-v-maddox-kan-1924.