Page:North Dakota Reports (vol. 48).pdf/67

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GARSKE v. HANN
43

G. Burr, District Judge, and on November 18, 1919, an order was entered directing a dismissal of the appeal on the ground that no notice of appeal had been served as provided by law, and further providing that a certified copy of the order be filed with the justice of the peace and that “thereupon the said judgment shall have the same force and validity and may be enforced in the same manner in said justice court as if no appeal had in fact been attempted to be taken,” and that judgment be entered accordingly. On December 31, 1919, the defendant’s attorney served upon the attorneys for the plaintiff a notice of appeal from this order. This notice, together with the undertaking, was filed in the office of the district court on the same date. Thereafter, on January 13, 1920, the defendant’s attorney, pursuant to. notice and over the objection of plaintiff’s attorneys, caused a judgment to be entered in the district court confirming the judgment entered in the justice court; also dismissing the appeal and including costs in the sum of $13. On July 7, 1920, the defendant served a notice of appeal and undertaking appealing from the judgment which had heen entered in January preceding.

In the brief of appellant’s counsel it is conceded that there is but one question involved in these appeals ; namely, was the notice of appeal from the judgment entered in the justice court properly served upon the plaintiff's attorney? We are of the opinion that it was not. The statute, Section 7952, C. L. 1913, authorizes service by mail when the person making the service and the person on whom it is to be made reside in different places between which there is a regular communication by mail. It does not authorize service by mail where the parties reside in the same place, as in the instant case. The fair implication from this statute is that where parties reside in the same place they should resort to the more reliable method of personal service which is provided for in Section 7951. This court has repeatedly held that an unauthorized service by mail is not the equivalent of personal service. Rhode Island Hospital Trust Co. v. Keeney, 1 N. D. 411; Clyde v. Johnson, 4 N. D. 92. See also McKenzie v. Boynton, 19 N. D. 531-535. It follows that the order and judgment of dismissal was proper, and they are affirmed.

Robinson, Ch. J., and Christianson, and Bronson, JJ., concur.

Grace, J. (concurring specially). § 7952, Comp. Laws 1913 permits service by mail, when the person making the service and the person on