Zimmerman v. Barnes

43 P. 764, 56 Kan. 419, 1896 Kan. LEXIS 33
Supreme Court of Kansas·Decided February 8, 1896·No. Nos. 7752, 10447·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Martin, 0. J.

: It is unnecessary to consider whether the service by publication was or was not void, • for it was attacked directly by motion in good season, and therefore we have the question before us whether the proceeding was regular or erroneous. It is well settled that, with some exceptions, not including this controversy, the jurisdiction of a court does not extend beyond the boundaries of the state, so as to bind personally by its adjudication those outside of such boundaries. No personal judgment against a non-resident can be obtained, unless he shall enter his appearance or be served with process within the state, although any property which he may have within the jurisdiction may be subjected to any just [422] demand against him, and any right, title, lien or interest that any other person may claim in such property may also be the subject of adjudication. In cases of the latter class, service may be made by publication. (Civil Code, § 72.) It would be an abuse of process to compel a non-i’esident owner of property located here to subject himself to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state upon a mere personal claim, as a condition of his right to litigate as to the title or status of such property. As to personal claims against him, a nonresident has a right to defend against the same in his own courts as long as he chooses to remain there, without going into another jurisdiction. The jhaintiff below had a right to service by publication for the purpose of establishing an interest in the lands described, but, on failure in that respect, he could not recover a personal judgment for damages for the value, of such interest.

In the case of a creditor proceeding by publication, the fact that he is seeking to subject property of the defendant within the jurisdiction must affirmatively appear. (Repine v. McPherson, 2 Kan. 340, 346.) In a suit against a foreign corporation, where its treasurer, found within the state, is garnished, but he has no funds of the corporation in his hands here, the court obtains no jurisdiction over the corporation or its property in another state on service against it by publication, (Wheat v. P. C. & Ft. D. Rld. Co., 4 Kan. 370,) and where the affidavit for publication does not state directly, inferentially, or in any other way that the' action brought is one of those mentioned in section 72 of the civil code, it is fatally defective, and service by publication cannot be obtained thereon. (Harris v. Claflin, 36 Kan. 543.) In Neal v. Reynolds, 38 Kan. 432, 435, a party sought to^ rescind a contract for the [423] exchange of real estate by an action properly brought in the county where part of it was situated, against residents of another county, where they were summoned. After appearance of the defendants, the plaintiff, obtaining leave to amend, added another cause of action for damages for breach of warranty as to some of the exchanged lands, thus blending a local with a transitory cause of action, and it was held that the added cause was properly struck out on motion of the defendants ; that the plaintiff should be confined to the cause of action which authorized service of summons in another county, and to allow him to do more was to violate the statute relating to service, take an undue advantage of the defendants, and impose upon the court. It may be difficult to reconcile this case with Beebe v. Carter, 54 Kan. 261, but the latter case is distinguishable from the one now under consideration, for in that the amendment was allowed after a general appearance had been entered by the defendant constructively served, and one of the defendants had been personally served. In the present case, demands only personal in their nature were united with those wherein constructive service is allowable, and then such service was attempted as to the several incongruous claims; but the validity of the service having been attacked by motion, we cannot disregard the former as mere surplusage, because, on appearance of the defendants below, they could not answer to a part of the petition only, but must respond to everything contained therein ; and thus they would be forced to litigate personal claims as a penalty for appearing in this jurisdiction for the purpose of settling rights to property situated here. The judgment of the court below overruling the motion to set aside service will there[424] fore be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

It was unnecessary to bring the second case here, as everything essential to a consideration of the question involved was presented in the first case, and the second will therefore be dismissed.

Allen, J., concurring.

Johnston, J.

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Zimmerman v. Barnes, 43 P. 764, 56 Kan. 419, 1896 Kan. LEXIS 33 (kan 1896).

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