62 Iowa 494 | Iowa | 1883
The amount in controversy does not exceed
$100, and the case eomes to us upon a certificate from the
“2. Where .condemnation proceedings were had in the name of the garnishee herein, and the award was paid to the sheriff and an appeal taken by the land-owner, who was the plaintiff’s judgment debtor, and when plaintiff garnished the railway company condemning, could the raihvay company pur
“ 3. Under the facts shown in the first question, supra, and in the agreed statement of facts, was there ever any indebtedness due, or to become due, from the railway company to the defendant, Cronan, such as under our statute could be the subject of garnishment?
“ 4. When the garnishee condemned the right of way, paid the amount of the assessment to the sheriff, and took possession, did such proceedings, where the land-owner appealed from the amount of the assessment, create a liability on the part of the railway company which could be the subject of garnishment? Is not such liability, if any, a contingent one, and under our statute is a contingent liability the subject of garnishment?
“5. Under the facts stated in the fourth question, supra, and in the agreed statement of facts, are not any increase of damages that may he awarded upon an appeal, over and above the amount found by the sheriff’s jury and deposited with the sheriff by the railway company, unliquidated damages, and as such not liable to be garnished?
“6. Was service of the notice of garnishment upon A. W. McFarland, who was employed by said Dows, the party furnishing the right of way under contract, as set out in the agreed facts, as the local attorney of garnishee in Humboldt county for the purpose of assisting Dows in' procuring such right of way through Humboldt county, such service of notice of garnishment as would he good and sufficient service of garnishment upon the railway company, garnishee?
“ 7. Upon the agreed facts in this case, was the garnishee liable for the sum of $50, as held by the trial court in its judgment herein.”
We do not think that the employment of Dows by the railroad company to procure its right of way at a fixed price
The railroad company was the party liable to land-owners for compensation for right of way. Land-owners could sue the railroad company and enjoin it, and take all other proper legal action pertaining to the right of way. But they could take no action against Dows. It follows that, if a land-owner had a valid claim, the railroad company would be the proper party to garnish, and, upon the garnishment being made, all of its agents, whether employed to procure right of way at a stated sum per mile, or otherwise, were bound to take notice of the garnishment, and govern themselves thereby.
It is claimed that the court should have held that Cronan’s claim for an increase of compensation, which he was asserting by his appeal, was a mere contingent liability, and not subject to garnishment. We think otherwise. Cronan claimed by his appeal that-he was entitled to more than $250 compensation. It is true, this was contingent upon a trial in the circuit court, but the garnishee removed this contingency by paying Cronan $50 in excess of the award of the sheriff’s jury. This was the legal effect of the transaction between Cronan and the railroad company. It was not a new arrangement having no connection with the original proceedings to condemn the right of way. Its effect was to pay Cronan $50 in addition to what had already been paid.
The foregoing observations, we think, determine all questions certified, excepting the sixth, which involves the suifi-. ciency
Affirmed.