Cole v. Utah Sugar Co.

99 P. 681 | Utah | 1909

FPJCN, J.

Despondent commenced this action to recover the sum .of $385.74 with accrued interest, as a balance alleged to be due him for sugar beets sold and delivered to the appellant the Utah Sugar Company, and which money, it is alleged, said company had wrongfully transferred to the appellant Sidney Stevens Implement Company. It is further alleged that said money is held by said appellant for the use and benefit of respondent. Both appellants are alleged to be Utah corporations. The appellants answered jointly. .After admitting their corporate capacity and denying the other allegations of the complaint generally, they set up an affirmative defense, in which the appellant the Utah Sugar Company, hereinafter designated “sugar company,” justified the payment of said money to the other appellant upon the ground that the sugar company paid the money into the municipal court of Odgen City pursuant to an execution issued upon a judgment in favor of the appellant Sidney Stevens Implement Company, which judgment was against one Erastus Ilansen, who was the person who contracted to sell, and did sell and deliver, the sugar beets to the appellant sugar company; that said judgment remained wholly unpaid and in full force and effect when said money was paid into said court by the sugar company; that said Sidney Stevens Implement Company received said money from said court in payment of the judgment aforesaid. The transaction will he more fully explained hereafter. The respondent recovered judgment in the trial court, from which both appellants prosecute this appeal.

At the trial the evidence tended to show the following facts: That the respondent owned some beet lands about five miles south of the village of Garland, at which place the sugar factory of the appellant sugar company is located, in-Box Elder county. That respondent in the year 1905 desired to raise some beets upon his land, and, with that end in view, enu ployed the Erastus Hansen aforesaid, also known as Bast. Hansen, at $60 per month to superintend or oversee the cultivation and harvesting of the beets. That said Hansen, at the request of respondent, entered into a written contract with the sugar company, whereby it was agreed that said sugar company would furnish, the seed and plant twenty-five acres of sugar beets for said Hansen, and that he would cultivate and harvest said beets and deliver them to the sugar company at an agreed price, ranging from $4 to $4.50 per ton. That Hansen would pay the sugar company at the rate of $2.75 per acre for the seed and planting. The contract also provided that it was subject to any interest certain Japanese laborers might have in the beets for their labor in cultivating them. Respondent also testified that, when he and Hansen started out in the spring, they talked of allowing Hansen one-half of the proceeds of the beets in excess of ten tons per acre in addition to the $60 per- month. Hansen arranged with some Japanese laborers for the cultivation and harvesting of the beets, and agreed to pay them one-half of the proceeds of the crop as compensation. When Mr. Hansen was about to enter into the contract with the sugar company, he informed respondent and asked him about signing the contract and respondent told Hansen to sign it, which Hansen did. The sugar company did not know of the arrangement existing between Hansen and respondent, but assumed that the beets belonged to Hansen. Hansen testified that, in addition to the amount mentioned in the contract, consisting of about 24 1-2 acres of beets, he also planted 7 or 7 1-2 acres of beets in the orchard owned by respondent, so that the acreage amounted to more than was specified in the contract. After the beets had all been delivered to' the sugar company under’ the Hansen contract, the sugar company deducted from the amount due for beets the sum of $89.40 for seed and planting 32 1-2 acres, as appears from Exhibit 2, admitted in evidence as part of the cross-examination of respondent by appellants’ counsel. The respondent, however, testified that about thirty acres of beets were planted, and that, while he did not know the exact number of tons raised and delivered, the beets averaged a little less than ten tons per acre; that the beets sold and delivered to the sugar company amounted to between $1,200 and $1,300, of which the Japanese laborers received one-half as their share; that be bad received in tbe neigbborbood of $200 upon tbe contract, and that tbe sugar company bad retained tbe sum of $385.74 out of tbe amount coming to bim, and bad refused to pay it. Mr. Hansen further testified that at tbe time of settlement for tbe beets in tbe fall of 1905, and when tbe Japanese laborers were paid, tbe sugar company offered to pay bim for bis share tbe sum of $172.23 as tbe balance due on tbe contract; that tbe manager of tbe sugar company said that be bad paid tbe $385.74 into court upon a judgment against Hansen; that Hansen then told tbe manager that tbe money for tbe beets did not belong to Hansen, but that it belonged to respondent, and Hansen refused to receive the money and left it with tbe sugar company. Tbe respondent testified that be afterwards, in May, 1906, did receive tbe check offered to Hansen for $172.23 as aforesaid, and obtained payment thereof by indorsing on tbe back thereof both bis own name and that of Hansen.

This substantially was tbe state of tbe .proof when respondent rested. Tbe appellants interposed a motion for nonsuit upon various grounds, but the ones now insisted upon are as follows: (1) That tbe respondent was not tbe sole owner of tbe beets; and (2) that tbe controversy arises 'by virtue of a written contract entered into between Hansen and tbe sugar company which.was a personal and nontransferable contract to which respondent was not a party, and hence was not tbe real party in interest, and cannot maintain tbe action.

As to tbe first ground, as the evidence stood when respondent rested, there certainly was nothing before tbe court which tended to show that any one else claimed any interest in tbe beets or tbe proceeds thereof except respondent Mr. Hansen, in whose name tbe contract was - made, was a witness in tbe case, and be disclaimed all interest in tbe beets or tbe proceeds thereof. Tbe fact that there bad been some talk between Hansen and respondent that respondent was-, to receive all tbe proceeds in case tbe beets did Hot exceed-ten tons per acre, and that Hansen should have half in excess of ten tons as additional compensation, did not necessarily give Mr. Hansen an interest in tbe beets themselves. But, apart from this, there was no evidence at this stage of the proceedings which tended to show that the beets yielded more than ten tons to the acre. Indeed, all the evidence was to the effect that the.yield was a little below that amount. If in connection with this we consider Hansen’s disclaimer while on the witness stand of any interest in the beets, the court was not authorized to find from the evidence as it then stood that Hansen had any interest in the beets. But, if the appellants desired to interpose 1,2, 3 a plea of a defect of parties, they should have set it up in their answer. Nor did the fact that Hansen made the contract in his own name prevent respondent from bringing the action as the real party in interest. The rule is stated in 1 Bates on Bleading, Practice, Parties, and Norms, p. 28, as follows: “It makes no difference that the’ instrument or promise to 'one who is acting for another is under seal, the real owner can sue upon it though his name does not appear therein.” The evidence certainly was to the effect that Hansen entered into the contract for respondent. The authorities cited by Mr. Bates are very numerous, and need not be specially referred to here. These authorities cover cases of agents, undisclosed principals, and representatives of all kinds.- See volmne aforesaid, pages 27 and 28.

The objection that the party suing is not the real party in interest can only be taken advantage of by demurrer or answer; and, if not so taken, is waived. This doctrine is sustained by abundant authority. See 15 Eney. PL & Pr., pp. 713, 714. The court therefore committed no- error in overruling the motion for a nonsuit.

Proceeding now to the consideration of the defense to this action, the evidence tended to establish the following facts: In October, 1902, the appellant Sidney Stevens Implement Company obtained a judgment against Brastus and Jacob Hansen in the justice’s court of Ogden City for the sum of $292.18 and for $10 costs, which judgment remained unpaid and in full force. On tbe 4th day of November, 1905, an execution was duly issued upon said judgment out of the municipal court of Ogden City as the successor of said justice’s court against said Hansen and delivered to the constable of Box Elder county for service and return. On the 7th day of November the said constable pretended to serve said execution by delivering a copy thereof to Mosiah Evans. In addition to the copy of said execution, the constable delivered to said Evans a paper, which in words and figures is as follows:

“State of Utah, County of "Weber, ss.:

To Mosiah Evans, Manager:

Please take notice that all moneys, goods, credits, effects, debts due or owing, or any personal property, or all stocks or shares, or interest in stocks-or shares of the -■-company, in your possession or under your control, belonging to the within named defendant or either of them, are attached in pursuance of a writ of which the within is a copy, and you are notified not to pay over or transfer the same to any one but myself.

Please furnish statement.

Dated this 4th day of November, A. D. 1905.

Pees: $-;-. . --■,

Paid, $-. , • --=-•

Due, $-.”

I hereby certify that I have served the within writ by delivering a copy of same to Mosiah Evans this 7th day of November, 1905. Pees, $1, Pd. T. E. Secrist, Constable.”

No other writs, notices, or papers of any kind were served either upon said Evans or upon the sugar company. Upon the service of a copy of said execution and the aforesaid paper upon Mr. Evans, he, acting for the sugar company, deducted the amount called for by said execution, namely, the sum of $385.74, from the amount due upon the Hansen ■contract, and forwarded said amount to one Jensen as the clerk of the municipal court of Ogden City. Said clerk applied said amount in payment of the judgment upon which the execution was issued, and" after the' Sidney Stevens Implement Company, the judgment creditor - of Hansen, had- indorsed satisfaction upon said judgment, delivered. said $385.74 to said company as and for full payment of said' judgment. Hosiah Evans, tbe manager, further testified that, when be forwarded tbe check to tbe clerk of said court, neither be nor tbe sugar company bad any knowledge of tbe respondent’s claim to or right in tbe money under tbe Hansen contract but believed that it belonged to Hansen, and that Evans, as manager of tbe sugar company, was legally required to pay said money for tbe purpose of applying it upon tbe judgment against Hansen. It is claimed by appellant sugar company that, inasmuch as tbe contract was a personal one with Hr. Hansen, tbe sugar company bad a perfect legal right to pay tbe money due upon it to him; that, if it bad a right to pay it to him, it also bad a legal right to pay it in pursuance of law into court for tbe benefit of Hr. Hansen’s judgment creditor; and that it did just this, and therefore tbe judgment against it is erroneous. Tbe appellant Sidney Stevens Implement Company contends that- it obtained the money under due process of law, and applied it in payment of a judgment against Hansen, tbe judgment debtor, and hence the judgment is erroneous as against it. No doubt, under tbe facts in this case, tbe sugar company was authorized to pay Hr. Hansen the amount due upon tbe contract, and payment to him would have been binding upon tbe respondent. As to whether tbe sugar company could also have paid tbe money due upon tbe contract for tbe benefit of Hr. Hansen’s creditors under legal process is a question not involved, and we therefore express no opinion upon it. Tbe claim that tbe sugar company paid in pursuance of legal process cannot be sustained. In case of garnishment before judgment, or in aid of an attachment, section 3092, Compi. Laws 1907, provides that writ of garnishment must issue, the form of which is prescribed by said section, which must be directed tO' tbe person or corporation who is intended to be made garnishee. By section 3093 it is provided that this writ must be served upon tbe garnishee in the same manner as a summons in an action is required to be served. Section 3094 provides that, when the return of the officer shows due service upon the person named in the writ of garnishment, this confers jurisdiction upon the court to proceed against the garnishee and the funds in his hands. Section 3095 provides that the garnishee must answer in writing and under oath certain questions which are set forth in the section. And it is' further provided in said section that, unless the fee is paid or tendered to the garnishee, no answer can be required from him. By section 3098 it is provided that when it shall be made to appear that the garnishee has been duly served with a writ of garnishment, and it shall further be made to appear by the oath of the person serving said writ that the fee of $2 has been tendered or paid to the garnishee, then the garnishee may be proceeded against by the court, whether he answer or not. Section 3112 provides for garnishment after judgment in aid of execution, and it is there provided that in ease an execution is issued upon a judgment, and remains in the hands of the officer for service unsatisfied, a writ of garnishment may issue, and the moneys, credits, and effects of the judgment debtor may be reached by serving the writ upon the person who has any such in his possession belonging to the judgment debtor. The proceedings upon a writ issued after judgment are precisely the same as upon a writ issued before judgment. In the case at bar, an execution against Erastus Hansen was issued and delivered to an officer in whose hands it remained until the 7th day of November, 1905, when the alleged service thereof was made upon Mosiah Ewans, but the service as made was a mere nullity. Under our statute merely 4 serving Mr. Evans with a copy of the execution and requesting him to make the statement set forth above amounted to nothing. No writ of garnishment was ever issued or served. Without due service of the writ upon the garnishee the court could acquire no jurisdiction.

Referring to this point, in 20 Oye. 1047, it is said:

“The service of a writ of summons .in garnishment is regulated by statute, which must be strictly followed in order to confer jurisdiction upon the court, and in the majority of jurisdictions actual service upon the garnishee is required, and a failure to comply with the statute in respect to service is not waived by the voluntary appearance of the garnishee so as to confer jurisdiction upon the court.”

Here defects in service or in tbe writ, wbicb are not jurisdictional, are waived by tbe voluntary appearance of tbe garnisbee. In 2 Sbinn on Attachment and Garnishment, section 610, the law upon this question is 5 stated to be to tbe effect that tbe garnisbee cannot waive due and legal service of tbe writ of garnishment.

“And, if the garnishee is not legally served, nothing has been attached by the process of garnishment. ... It is essential in order to bind the creditor (the principal defendant) whose claim is sought to be appropriated by process of garnishment that there should' be service thereof, and such' principal defendant will not be bound by an independent and spontaneous admission of his rights by his debtor — the garnishee. . . . The court does not obtain jurisdiction over the debt sought to be seized without sufficient service upon the garnishee. . . . The garnishee by appearing and answering cannot waive objection to the jurisdiction. Jurisdictional defects can be taken advantage of even in a collateral proceeding.”

In Rood on Garnishment, section 213, it is said:

“The garnishment judgment, in order to be a protection to the garnishee against subsequent liability, must have been rendered by a court having jurisdiction of the subject-matter and of the parties; and this can be acquired only upon performance of all the statutory prerequisites, and compliance with all the preliminaries which the statute makes conditions of jurisdiction. All of this must appear of record in the garnishment proceedings which aré set up as a defense in the subsequent suit.”

There is neither order or judgment of any character upon wbicb tbe sugar company relies to justify tbe payment of tbe money in this case. There is not even a semblance of jurisdiction shown for any court to make any order with regard to tbe pretended garnishment. There is no pretense that a writ of garnishment was ever issued. But beyond tbis there is no service upon, tbe garnisbee of anything. Tbe notieé addressed to “Mosiah Evans, Manager,” can amount to nothing. Manager of whom or what? 6 If it bad been made to appear from tbe return of tbe officer that be bad served a writ of garnishment upon tbe sugar company by leaving it with Mosiah Evans, its manager, tbe fact that it was directed merely to Mosiah Evans might be overlooked. But tbe officer served no writ of garnishment on any one. Tbe notice be did serve was not served upon tbe sugar company, but upon Mosiah Evans only, as tbe return of tbe officer clearly shows. The sugar company, therefore, bad no right whatever to pay tbe money into any court whether tbe money belonged to Hansen or not. Tbe payment was a mere voluntary payment. In Waples on Attachment and Garnishment, section 959 (2d Ed.), tbe author says:

“Voluntary payment to tlie attaching creditor will not screen the garnishee from his debt to his own creditor. And it may be deemed voluntary should he have legal ground for resisting the execution, yet failed to use it — especially if the principal debtor is absent. ... So, too, when he surrenders property 7 to the court without order, when not served till after the return day. Paying when not obliged to pay is voluntary, and therefore not protection.”

When Mr. Evans, as tbe manager of the sugar company, paid the $385.14 to the clerk of tbe municipal court, it was precisely tbe same as though Evans bad paid it upon tbe mere request of either the Sidney Stevens Implement Company or tbe clerk. It was merely a voluntary payment of money belonging to another, and hence affords no protection as against the real owner thereof. Nor 8 did the Sidney Stevens Implement Company acquire any legal right to tbe money as against respondent. It applied money to its use without legal right or authority, and therefore held it subject to the real owner’s rights. In this connection we desire to state that what we have said with regard to the rights and liabilities of garnishees and creditors is limited to tbe facts in this case. We do not intend to establish a rule which, requires an exact and literal compliance with our statute relating to attachment and garnishment. Those statutes all require a liberal construction with the view of effecting their purpose; 9, 10 but, when the defect is jurisdictional as in this case, the courts have no right nor authority to disregard such defect. Where jurisdiction fails, usurpation and confiscation usually begin. The mere fact that A. is indebted to B. gives B. no better right to deal with A.’s money or credits than B. would have otherwise. Nor does it give C. the right to aid B. in securing his debt, except by the methods provided by law.

The contention that respondent ratified the act of the sugar company in paying the money into court by receiving the remainder of the money due upon the contract after $385.74 had been deducted cannot prevail. There was nothing to ratify so far as respondent was concerned.' It is true that, under some circumstances, a creditor 11 may estop himself from preferring a further claim after receiving a portion of the funds’ or property, all of which belonged to him. But such is not the case here. There is no accord and satisfaction involved, and none was pleaded nor proved. Respondent could receive any portion less than* the whole at any time, and still demand the remainder. The most that can be said under the facts in this case is that a party received less than the whole amount due him without releasing his debtor for a valuable consideration. If the sugar company owed any balance for beets which belonged to respondent, he was entitled to it. If the appellants believed that the money, or any part of it, belonged to Hansen,, or that he had some interest in the beets, they ought to have set it up in their answer, and should have asked the court to make Hansen a party to the action. No such objection or defense was made. Both appellants relied solely upon the defense of justification. True, they denied respondent’s right to the money, but offered no proof upon that point except tbe contract entered into between Hansen and tbe sugar company. Tbe •prima facie legal effect of tbis contract was overcome when respondent proved that be was tbe real party in interest, and that tbe beets belonged to him, and not to Hansen. Hansen himself testified to .this effect, and thus tbe court could not properly find otherwise than it did, namely, that tbe money constituting tbe proceeds for the beets belonged to respondent, and, as the justification failed, tbe money, whichever of tbe appellants bad it, was held for the* use and benefit of respondent.

Taking another view, tbe sugar company is liable because it paid neither the ostensible creditor nor respondent, tbe real creditor; and tbe Sidney Stevens Implement Company is liable because it bolds respondent’s money without legal, right or authority, and hence ought to pay it to him.

■' From what has been said, the question raised by respondent, that tbe execution issued against Hansen was of no effect, is immaterial. Nor is tbe question urged by appellants, that tbe yield of the beets exceeded ten tons per acre, material. But, if it were, tbe court’s finding that Hansen bad no interest in tbe beets is sustained by sufficient evidence. Tbe entire tonnage, as appears from tbe records of tbe sugar company, amounted to three hundred tons and nine hundred pounds. If there were 32-| acres of beets planted under tbe contract, as appellant’s Exhibit 2 showed there were, then tbe yield was less than ten tons per acre planted. Hansen says there were 24| acres in one parcel and 7 or in another, and the sugar company charged and collected pay for seed and planting 32-J acres under tbe Hansen contract. Tbis clearly justified tbe court’s finding that Hansen bad no interest in tbe beets by virtue of tbe arrangement existing between him and the respondent.

Tbe judgment is affirmed, with costs to respondent.

STRÁ.TJP, C. J., and McCAHTY, J., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Cole v. Utah Sugar Co.

Court Name: Utah Supreme Court

Date Published: Jan 14, 1909

Citation: 99 P. 681

Docket Number: No. 1955

Court Abbreviation: Utah