1 D. Chip. 396 | Vt. | 1824
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
From the bill of exceptions in this case it appears, that the plaintiff in error considered himself aggrieved, not by the judgment having been rendered in favour of the defendant in error, on the issue of fact joined to the Court, but by the decision made, as to the proof required of the plaintiff below in the assessment of damages. From the assignment of errors and the course taken by the counsel in argument, it is evident that the allowance of the bill of exceptions was obtained, supposing it necessary for the purpose of laying the foundation of a writ of error, upon which this Court might be called to decide, whether an officer, having attached personal property on mesne process, and taken therefor the receipt of a third person of the tenor described in the record (and which is the usual form in such cases) can maintain an action with out showing special damage.
The undertaking, as expressed in the receipt, is to redeliver to the Sheriff, when demanded, or pay dll cost and damage. It is said by the counsel for the plaintiff, that, as the promise is in the alternative, that is, to redeliver or' pay the damage, the person executing the receipt may elect to pay the damage contemplated in the receipt; and this, he insists, is not the value of the property, but only such as the officer may be obliged to pay, by reason of his not having the property ready to be taken upon the execution, that may be issued upon the judgment rendered in the suit, on which the attachment is made. If the judgment has been otherwise satisfied, or no judgment has been rendered, or no writ of execution has been issued within thirty days from the time of rendering judgment, the officer is discharged from any liability to the plaintiff, and conse- ■ quently can claim nothing upon the receipt. The amount of the officer’s liability to the creditor is the rule of damages, and must be alleged in the declaration.
There can be no doubt such would be the law, and such ought to