132 Ind. 39 | Ind. | 1892
Lead Opinion
— This is an action brought by the appellee, the
The complaint is in three paragraphs, and if the judgment is sustained it can be only on the third paragraph, and as the paragraphs are not materially different we omit the first and second, and state in brief the contents of the third. It is alleged that the defendants, Fitzgerald, Fares and Fares, by their promissory note, dated the -7th day of August, 1884, agreed to pay the plaintiff, four months thereafter, the sum of $443.55, with interest thereon at the rate of eight per cent, per annum after maturity, and with attorney’s fees (a copy of the note is set out) ; that no part of said note has been paid; that the sum of fifty dollars is a reasonable attorney’s fee for collecting the same, and plaintiff is entitled to recover the same from said defendants.
It is further averred that Fares and Fares are only sureties of defendant Fitzgerald on said note; that on the 1st day of July, 1884, the defendant Fitzgerald made a mortgage to the defendant John C. Fares, upon certain personal property, describing it, to secure the said Fares in the payment of one note of even date therewith for $1,500, due nine months after date, with seven per cent, interest, and the further sum of $400 advanced to said Fitzgerald by said Fares, and also to secure said Fares from loss by reason of any further advancements that might be made or any endorsements of said Fares for said Fitzgerald.
At the date of the execution of said mortgage Fitzgerald resided in the county of Henderson and State of Kentucky, and the whole of the property embraced in said mortgage was situate therein. The said mortgage was on the day of its date acknowledged before a notary public, and on said day recorded in the office of the- clerk of the Henderson county court, and the law of the State of Kentucky authorizing the recording of the same is set out, and averring that the same was duly and legally recorded, and a copy of the same is set out with this paragraph.
The defendant John V. Fares also, by deed of conveyance on the 10th day of December, 1884, conveyed all his property, being the property mentioned in said mortgage, to the defendant Jaseph, in trust for the payment of his debts, which deed of trust was duly recorded in Vanderburgh county; that the defendant Fitzgerald owned no property but that embraced in the mortgage before mentioned made by him to John C. Fares, and has not since that date owned any other property; that said mortgage was made and intended to secure said Fares in any liability he might incur as surety for said Fitzgerald, including the note of plaintiff herein mentioned.
And plaintiff says that it is entitled to be substituted to the rights of said Fares in said mortgage, and to have the
Issues were joined on the complaint by the answer of defendant Jaseph. After the commencement of the suit there were also proceedings in attachment commenced and an affidavit in attachment filed, alleging asa ground for attachment “ that the defendant Larkin Fitzgerald has sold, conveyed or otherwise disposed of his property subject to execution, with the fraudulent intent to cheat, hinder and delay his creditors ; ” also, an affidavit in garnishment filed, stating that Simeon Jaseph is indebted to the defendant Larkin Fitzgerald, and that said Simeon Jaseph has the control or agency of certain money of the said defendant Larkin Fitzgerald, which the sheriff can not attach by virtue of the writ issued herein.
Defendant Jaseph answered the garnishee proceedings, denying any indebtedness. The cause was submitted to the court for trial without the intervention of a jury, and the court, by request, made a special finding of facts, and stated its conclusions of law thereon.
The bill of sale set out in the finding fixes the value of said property at $4,500, and shows a sale of the property by Fitzgerald to Jaseph for that amount, and the said Jaseph still holds the proceeds of said sale ; that Fitzgerald, Fares and Fares are each and all wholly insolvent. And it is further found that Jaseph has taken possession of the property, and sold and converted it to his own use, and that it is of the value of $4,000.
The court states as conclusions of law that the plaintiffs ought not to be subject to any rights under the mortgage, but, under their complaint and the proceedings in attachment, the defendant having taken possession of all the property therein mentioned and converted the same to his own use, in equity and law he is liable, and ought to be required to pay so much of the remaining proceeds thereof to the
The defendant Jaseph excepted to the conclusions of law. Judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff against said defendants for the amount due the plaintiffs — $554.
It is contended by counsel for appellant that the suit is brought for a foreclosure of the mortgage; that under the complaint the plaintiff can have no other relief except a foreclosure of the mortgage. If the proof or the finding of facts do not entitle the plaintiff to that relief it is not entitled to any.
This question must be determined by a few well settled principles. The action upon the note and for foreclosure of the mortgage were properly joined. The plaintiff was not required to bring two actions. Having the right to join the action on the note with the action to foreclose the mortgage, the plaintiff was entitled to judgment on the note, although it failed to establish its right to a foreclosure.
It being a proper suit upon the note, it is manifestly true that the plaintiff would have the right to institute any ancillary proceedings for the collection of the note, which it would have the right to do if the suit was upon the note alone, and not coupled with the suit to foreclose the mortgage, and therefore it was proper, and the plaintiff had the right to institute procceedings in attachment and garnishee the defendant Jaseph. The plaintiff did so and the defendant Jaseph answers to the proceedings in garnishment, and the cause proceeded to trial. We think there can be no question, if the evidence and facts found entitled the plaintiff to a judgment against Jaseph under the attachment and garnishee proceedings, it was proper to render it.
We do not think the rule applies, as contended by counsel for appellant, that a complaint must be good upon some one theory, and the action must be prosecuted upon that the
The finding of facts shows that Fitzgerald, on the 10th day of December, 1884, made a sale of all the property he then owned subject to execution, including the mortgaged property, to his co-defendant Jaseph ; that at the time of making the pretended sale Fitzgerald, Fares and Fares were indebted to the plaintiff in the sum found due in this case, and were also indebted to other persons; that defendant Jaseph knew of said indebtedness, and that said sale was made by Fitzgerald with intent and with a view and for the purpose of hindering, delaying and preventing the plaintiff and others from collecting their said claims against him, or any part thereof, and Jaseph knew, or ought to have known this fact, and he knew that Fares and Fares either had, or were about to make an assignment of all their property subject to execution for the benefit of certain of their creditors, and that as to unsecured creditors were wholly insolvent, and they did at the time make such assignment. Jaseph took the property by transfer, or pretended sale to him, and not by a foreclosure of a mortgage. The facts found show that Jaseph sold and converted the property to his own use, and held the proceeds of the sale in excess of the liens on the property, such excess amounting to $667.40. The price stated in the bill of sale as the amount he agreed to pay Fitzgerald is $1,-167.40 in excess of the claims, and the judgment rendered against him was only for $554.
The facts show a fraudulent transfer of the property by Fitzgerald to Jaseph for the purpose of defrauding the cred-
Under the same state of facts, as in this ease, it was held in the case of Jaseph v. Kronenberger, 120 Ind. 495, that Jaseph could not be held as garnishee, but that decision was. based upon the theory that by the fraud Jaseph did not become indebted to Fitzgerald, nor was any money placed in his hands or under his control belonging to Fitzgerald. The decision in that case was based on the general rule that the creditor stands in the shoes of the debtor, and unless the debtor himself could have maintained an action against the garnishee for the money or the debt, the creditor can not hold him as garnishee. A suggestion is made in that opinion which would indicate that the rights of the creditor, if he had any, must be worked out through a creditor’s bill.
It is said in that case that “the facts as found by the court are to the effect that Fitzgerald and the appellant (Jaseph) conspired together and perpetrated a frjtud, and that it was hurtful to the creditors, and there is evidence tending to support the finding. ” In that case this general rule, that a creditor stands in the shoes of his debtor in proceedings, against a garnishee, and can not recover unless the garnishee is liable in an action in favor of the debtor is applied, overlooking and disregarding the exception to the general rule, which is quite as well settled as the rule itself, and must be-regarded as a part of the rule that the creditor may reach the property,in the hands of a garnishee,fraudulently transferred to the latter by the debtor.
The rule is well and correctly stated in 2 Wade Attachments, section 827, as follows: “ Before the garnishee can be held liable to plaintiff, two facts must concur: 1. He must be in possession of defendant’s property, or be in debted to defendant. 2. Defendant must be indebted to] plaintiff. Generally, the defendant must have a cause of action against the garnishee, and the plaintiff must have* a cause of action against the defendant, supported by a cause
In Waples Attachment and Garnishment, page 215, it is said : “ The plaintiff may reach property in the hands of a garnishee fraudulently transferred to the latter by the defendant. Here is a case where the defendant could not re-recover the property at law, yet his creditor may; for the fraudulent transfer debars the defendant from suing for it, though it is no estoppel should the plaintiff in an attachment suit seek to reach the property in the transferree’s hands by the process of garnishment.”
In Gutterson v. Morse, 58 N. H. 529, it is held that in attachment the trustee is chargeable for proceeds received by him from his sale of the defendant’s chattels which had been fraudulently and without consideration conveyed to him by the defendant. Proctor v. Lane, 62 N. H. 457. The same doctrine is held in Risser v. Rathburn, 32 N. W. Rep. 198 (Iowa).
Our statute authorizing proceedings in attachment and garnishment is broad enough to authorize the holding of a fraudulent grantee of personal property liable. If the property fraudulently transferred to Jaseph had still remained in his hands it would have been subject to attachment, and could have been levied upon by virtue of the writ, the sale treated as void, and the property ordered sold, but Jaseph had sold and disposed of the property, and converted the
It is the purpose of proceedings in garnishment to go beyond those in attachment, and reach that which can not be attached. Section 931, R. S. 1881.
The sale being fraudulent, the property remained the property of the grantor. While he could not maintain an action to recover it by reason of his own fraud, yet his creditors could subject the property to the payment of their claims, and Jaseph having put the property beyond their reach, he was liable to the creditors in proceedings in garnishment for its value.
In this case the affidavit. in attachment alleged that Fitzgerald had sold, conveyed and otherwise disposed of his property subject to execution, with the fraudulent intent to cheat, hinder and delay his creditors. The affidavit in garnishment alleged that Jaseph was indebted to the defendant Fitzgerald, and had in his control money of the defendant Fitzgerald which the sheriff could not attach by virtue of the writ of attachment.
The facts found show that Fitzgerald made a sale of the property to Jaseph, and executed a bill of sale in pursuance thereof, the bill of sale showing that the property was sold by Fitzgerald to Jaseph at a stipulated price of $4,500; that the sale was fraudulent, hence Fitzgerald could not sue and recover its value, or the contract price agreed upon. On account of his own fraud he was estopped. The law would not aid him, though the property was subject to being applied to the payment of the claims of creditors. It is further found that Jaseph had sold and converted the property to his own use, and that it was of the value of $4,000; that it is subject to some $3,300 of liens, leaving a surplus of over $600, and Jaseph is held as garnishee, and judgment is rendered against
We think the finding of facts support the conclusions of law.
No motion was made to modify the form of the judgment, and no question is presented as to its form.
A question is presented as to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the finding of facts. We think the evidence is sufficient.
No issue was joined on the attachment proceedings, so that if the amount was due the plaintiff on the note from Fitzgerald, and Jaseph as garnishee was indebted to Fitzgerald, or held in his hands moneys belonging to Fitzgerald, the plaintiff was entitled to judgment against him as garnishee.
We think the facts authorized the judgment. So far as the plaintiff was concerned, the property, while it was in the hands of Jaseph, was subject to attachment, and Jaseph was liable as garnishee for the proceeds thereof or the actual value of the property after conversion. Jaseph having sold the property and put it beyond the reach of creditors, and having converted the proceeds to his own use, he was liable for its actual value. Jaseph having sold the property and received the proceeds, the proceeds would be treated as belonging to Fitzgerald.
While by reason of the fraud, Fitzgerald could not maintain an action against Jaseph, either for the property or its. value after conversion, yet, as to creditors, it would be his, and Jaseph would hold it in trust for the benefit of creditors, and is liable as garnishee. The rule above quoted, as laid down by Wade, enunciates the true doctrine, that a fraudulent assignee of personal property is liable as garnishee, though he may not be liable in an action brought by the fraudulent assignor, the assignor being estopped by his
It is with some reluctance that we disapprove of the decision in the case of Jaseph v. Kronenberger, supra, yet we feel constrained to do so rather than perpetuate this erroneous doctrine. The rule we have laid down in this case was not clearly stated or supported by the authorities in the brief of counsel in that case, and hence the rule, without the exception, was declared.
There is no error in the record.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion.
— I regret my inability to concur in the opinion in this case. As I am unable to do so, it is but fair to my associates, as well as those interested in the case, that I should give the reasons for my dissent.
Section 931, R. S. 1881, provides that “ If at the time an order of attachment issues, or at any time before or afterward, the plaintiff, or other person in his behalf, shall file with the clerk an affidavit that he has good reason to believe that any person, naming him, has property of the defendant of any description in his possession, or under his control, which the sheriff can not attach by virtue of such order; or that such person is indebted to the defendant, or has the control or agency of any property, moneys, credits, or effects; or that the defendant has any shares or interest in the stock of any association or corporation, — the clerk shall issue a summons notifying such person, corporation or association to appear at the ensuing term of the court, and answer as garnishee in the action.”
Section 939, R. S. 1881, provides that “A garnishee in attachment shall not be compelled in any case to pay or perform any contract in any other manner, or at any other time,
The affidavit for a writ of garnishment in this case is in the usual form, no charge of fraud.or intimation of fraud on the part of the garnishee being found therein. Had the property, formerly owned by the attachment defendant, been found in his hands I have no doubt that an issue might have been framed involving his right to hold it, including an issue as to whether its transfer was fraudulent or otherwise.
But no property was found in his hands. It had been sold, and the court held him liable for the proceeds, on the ground that the transfer to him by the attachment defendant was made with the intent to cheat and defraud creditors. This finding and judgment was wholly outside of any issue between him and the plaintiff in the attachment. If this is the correct mode of procedure, then I submit that any one who purchases property may, at any time within six years after such purchase, be proceeded against by way of garnishment, and without any intimation or notice that he is charged with fraud, until such charge is developed by the'evidence, be held for the proceeds of such property, and required to turn them over to the attachment plaintiff.
The authorities relied upon to sustain such a result are, 2 Wade Attachments, section 327; Waples Attachment, p. 215; Gutterson v. Morse, 58 N. H. 529; Proctor v. Lane, 62 N. H. 457, and Risser v. Rathburn, 32 N. W. Rep. 198. What is said by Wade on Attachments, supra, is based upon the case of Fearey v. Cummings, 41 Mich. 376, and Clark v. Brown, 14 Mass. 271. The case of Fearey v. Cummings, supra, rests upon a peculiar statute of the State of Michigan (section 6498), which gives the attachment plaintiff the right to question the good faith of a chattel mortgage executed to a garnishee.
In the case of Clark v. Brown, supra, no question of fraud was involved.
What is said in Waples on Attachment, supra, is based
In the case of Risser v. Rathburn, supra, there was a direct issue of fraud made and tried. There was also a finding by the jury, in answer to interrogatories, that the .garnishee was indebted to the attachment defendant in the sum of $488.26 on an agreement to pay the difference between the invoice of certain goods and a debt due from the attachment defendant to the garnishee.
In my opinion these authorities do not fully support the conclusion reached in this ease. It must be constantly borne in mind that an attachment proceeding is a stranger to the common law. It exists only by statute, and while a statute may be framed so as to authorize a judgment like the one rendered in this case, in my opinion, our statute does not authorize it.
That the funds in question could have been reached by the creditors of the attachment defendant, in a suit for that purpose, where proper issues involving the question of fraud could have been framed and tried, is too well settled to need argument. Phelps v. Smith, 116 Ind. 387; Goldman v. Biddle, 118 Ind. 492.
In my opinion this is the only mode by which they could have been reached, inasmuch as the garnishee, under our statute, is treated as a mere stake-holder.