25 Mich. 10 | Mich. | 1872
This was an action upon the bond of Dunphy as sheriff of the county of St. Clair, given December 24, 1866, and conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties as such during his continuance in office by virtue of his election, which took place in November, 1866, for a term of two years, commencing the following January. The breach alleged was the failure to return an execution in favor of Whipple, which was issued November 30, 1867, returnable on the first Tuesday of February, then next ensuing. The first objection to a recovery is that the office of the sheriff became vacant by his failure to renew his bond within twenty days after the first Monday of January, 1868, and consequently he was not in office on the return day of the writ. .
The sheriff, it appears, did fail to renew his bond, but he continued to act as sheriff notwithstanding. The constitution provides (Art. X., § 5) that “he may be required by law to renew his security from time to time, and in default of giving such security his office shall be deemed vacant.” The statute (Comp. L., 1857, § JiJ) made it his duty to renew his bond within twenty days after the first day of January in each year subsequent to that upon which
It is further objected that the circuit court erred in rendering judgment on the bond for the full amount off Whipple’s execution. It appears that the sheriff levied-upon certain lands as the property of the judgment debtor, and it was sold as such and bid in by Whipple; but as the sheriff made no return and gave him no certificate of purchase, he was unable to assert his right to the land. It was also shown that previous to the levy the judgment debtor had made a transfer of these lands in trust to pay debts; and this is insisted upon as a sufficient excuse to the sheriff for not perfecting the sale. Whipple, however, claims that as to him the transfer was void.
Where the sheriff fails to return an execution, the debt is assumed to be lost, and the execution creditor is prima facie entitled to recover of him the full amount. But the sheriff is nevertheless allowed to make the one excuse for not performing his duty, — that however faithfully he might have endeavored to do so, the effort would have been ineffectual because the defendant had no property from which the money could be made. — Ledyard v. Jones, 7 N. Y., 550; Bank of Rome v. Curtiss, 1 Hill, 276; Pardee v.
But it is said the damages sustained by Whipple were ■sustained in his character as purchaser, and not as execution creditor, inasmuch as what he lost was the benefit of his bid. This view is plausible, but we think not sound. When property is sold on an execution, the creditor as ■such is entitled to what is received to satisfy it. If money is received, as creditor, that is his; if property is bid in in his name, as creditor, his bid satisfies the execution, and in that capacity he is entitled to the evidences of title without the payment of money on his purchase. What he has lost, therefore, he has lost as judgment creditor.
We think the view taken of the case by the circuit judge was correct, and the judgment should be affirmed.
I was at first much impressed with the argument that the failure of the sheriff to return the writ was the only grievance involved, and that the damages would be reduced by the showing concerning the disposal of the property by the judgment debtor. But on reflection I agree in the views expressed by my brother Cooley. There was no personal service of process in the ease, and a loss of the levy was a loss of all the advantage of the judgment which could not be enforced against any other property. It is quite clear from the finding that the debtor could not have had any claim enforced against him in any other way than under the transfers of this very property. Those transfers his creditors had a right to assail. As the assignments were in trust for the benefit of creditors, if the property assigned should turn out sufficient to more than pay other creditors, then the surplus would result and belong to the debtor or to those who had succeeded to his rights, and an execution purchaser might have redeemed from the assignment, or .assailed it as he saw fit.
The actual value of such a right must of necessity be uncertain, and if, as suggested by my brother Cooley, the sale had been made to a third person, the sheriff would have been accountable for the money. He could not lawfully undo his own sale, and in cases of attachment it is doubtful, at least, whether he could release a levy at all. It is not made under his discretion, but as a legal obligation which he cannot control.
If the judgment creditor in such a case bids off the property, it being the only thing which could ever be reached by the judgment, it is a satisfaction of the judgment, so far as the bid goes, which cannot be undone by the sheriff, and the failure of the sheriff to furnish the cer
I am not prepared to say that where there is a personal judgment the solvency of the debtor, where there has been no sale completed by certificate, might not be an element to be considered. I confine my opinion to cases like the present.
I concur also in holding the bond a continuing claim against the sureties during the term of office under the election.