Leusch v. Nickel

16 N.M. 28 | N.M. | 1911

OPINION OP THE COURT.

McFIE, J.

1 There are six assignments of error contended for by the appellants, but under the views of the law and facts taken by this court it will not be necessary for the court to consider all of these assignments. While it may be true that some of the motions made by counsel for the defendants during the early stages of the case might have been considered well founded, if the same had been pressed and relied upon and preserved so as to be available on appeal, we are of the opinion that both as to the attachment issue and the judgment upon the indebtedness, the proceedings and rulings of the court upon the motions to quash and dissolve the attachment for defects in the affidavit, the original attachment bond, and the demurrer to the complaint are not now before the court for consideration. Proceeding, then, to the consideration of the attachment feature in this ease,, the record discloses that the defendants gave a bond to the sheriff in which they and the sureties on the bond agreed to perform the judgment of the court in case judgment should be-rendered against them, and the property was released from the attachment and the attachment was thereby-dissolved, as provided for in sub-sec. 225 of chapter 107, Laws of 1907, which section provides as follower. “Sub-Section 225. If the defendant or other person on his behalf at any time before judgment give a bond to be-executed to the plaintiff, by one or more sureties, possessing the same qualifications required by sureties on bonds for the issuance of attachments, to the effect that the defendant shall perform the judgment of the court, the attachment in such action shall be discharged and restitution made of any property taken under it or proceeds thereof. Such bond shall also discharge any garnishee from liability in said cause.” Chapter 107, above referred to, provides- for two bonds. Sub-Section 198, provides for a bond to be given by the defendant,, which, when given, authorizes the defendant to retain the possession of the property attached. The bond further provides that the property shall be forthcoming when the court shall direct, but the bond given was not a forthcoming bond under this section, but the bond provided for in sub-section 225 which provides for the payment of the debt, and has the effect of dissolving the attachment. The bond thus-given stands in lieu of the rem and the action proceeds-in personam.

In Shinn on Attachment, Section 304, pages 590, 591 and 592, it is said: When, for the purpose of releasing, attached property (or to prevent property from being-attached), a bond is given to pay the judgment which the attachment plaintiff may thereafter procure against the attachment defendant, the principal -effect of such bond is to dissolve the attachment (if levied) and discharge the-property from the attachment lien,, and the case will then proceed as if originally begun by summons. The bond stands in lieu of the rem. The property is gone from the court’s control. Idle bond is special bail and is a substitute for the property as regards all claims that may be made against it by the promoter of the suit. The attachment has expended its force and is no longer operative. The bond dissolves the attachment entirely. It is not given for the property itself, but for the payment absolutely of the judgment when recovered in the suit, whatever may be the amount, if within the penalty named in the bond. It is a security for any judgment which would have been satisfied out of the attached property. And this, although there may be, by leave of court a discontinuance as to all the defendants named in the bond except the administrator of one deceased. In fact, it has been said that a bond given to the plaintiff, to pay the judgment that may be recovered by him operates not only to release the levy, but to destroy the writ itself, and that thereafter a. motion to dissolve the attachment as being irregular or improvidently issued will not be entertained. There is no levy to be quashed after the bond is given and the property is released.” U. S. v. Ames, 99 U. S. 35; Carpenter v. Turrell, 100 Mass. 450; Inbusch v. Farwell, 1 Black, U. S. 566; Fox v. McKenzie, 47 N. W. Rep. 386; Morrison v. Alphin, 23 Ark. 136; Fergusson v. Glidewell, 48 Ark. 195, 2 S. W. Rep. 711; Rachelman v. Skinner, 46 Minn. 196, 48 N. W. Rep. 776.

By reference to the bond which was given in this case the following provisions clearly show that it was given for the purpose of securing the discharge of the attachment, and as an obligation to pay any judgment that might bo rendered in the case: “Now, therefore, we, the undersigned residents of the county of Bernalillo, Territory of New Mexico, in consideration of the premises and in order that the attachment in such action shall be discharged and restitution made of any property taken under it or the proceeds thereof, do hereby jointly and -severally undertake and promise to the effect that if the said plaintiff should recover judgment in said action we will pay to the said plaintiff upon demand the amount of said judgment and promise that the defendants will in every manner perform the judgment of the court in said action. (Signed) Milton H. Edwards, Lena Edwards, Harry Carter, D. J. Rankin, J. E.'Haines.” There being a general appearance for the defendants in this case, and this bond having been entered into which the statute specifically says shall discharge and dissolve the attachment and the lien thereof, we are of the opinion that the assignments of error relied upon as to the attachment proceedings cannot be considered on this appeal.

2 The second and fifth assignments of error relate to the judgment rendered upon the indebtedness sued for. The second assignment is that the court erred in overruling the demurrer of the defendants to the complaint of the plaintiff. The record shows that a demurrer was filed to the original complaint, but the record does not show that the same was formally overruled by the court and exception taken to such ruling. The record further shows, however, that a supplemental complaint was filed by the plaintiff on the 14th of April, 1910, of which defendant’s counsel admits service, and this supplemental complaint covered the entire cause of action, but discloses the additional fact that the indebtedness described in the original complaint had since the filing thereof become due and payable: C. L. 1897, Sec. 3685, Sub-section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is as follows: “Sub-Section 89: In every complaint, answer or reply, amendatory or supplemental, the party shall set forth in one entire pleading all matters •which, by the rules of pleading, may be set forth in said pleading, and which may be necessary to the proper determination of the action or defense.” The filing of this supplemental complaint had the effect of disposing of the demurrer filed to the original complaint in-as-much as the same Ayas not renewed, as to the supplemental complaint so far as the record shows. Therefore this assignment Avould appear to be unavailing.

3 4 The fifth assignment of error is that the court erred in entering judgment for the reason that the court had no jurisdiction of either the party or the subject matter. This assignment does not appear to be well taken, first for the reason that by a general appearance the parties were certainly before the court, and this also appears from the bond executed for the payment of any judgment which might be rendered. The subject matter of the action was indebtedness evidenced by a promissory note, as to which there was no denial of the amount due and payable, nor is there any denial of the service of the defendants, Milton and Lena Edwards, the principals in the bond which'was given for the payment of the indebtedness, and there was service of the supplemental complaint, as appears from the admission in writing of the attorney for the defendants. The fact that the defendant Nickel had not been served in the attachment suit, would be entirely immaterial as to the indebtedness due upon this note, in-as-muclx as tire contract evidenced by the note is joint and several under the statute, and could be maintained against the defendants, served. In our opinion the conduct of the defendants themselves clearly conferred jurisdiction both as to the person and the subject matter of the action.

5 The record disclosing the fact that the defendants served had failed to answer or plead within the time limited by law, judgment was properly rendered upon the note sued upon.

6 The sixth assignment of error goes to the rendering of judgment against the sureties on the bond, undertaking to pay the judgment, but there appears to be very clear authority for the rendition of judgment against the sureties under the statute of this Territory. Sub-Section 226, Chapter 107, Laws of 1907,- provides as follows: “If upon the trial of said cause judgment shall be rendered against the defendant on the demand sued for, said judgment shall also be rendered against the sureties on said bond given for the discharge of said attachment; and the giving of said bond shall have the effect of conferring jurisdiction upon the court to render said judgment against the said sureties for the amount of the damage recovered against the defendant, without further process or notice.” This section refers specifically to a judgment in a case such as that now under consideration, and there can be no doubt of the right of the court under this section to render the judgment against the sureties upon the bond given to dissolve the attachment,

The judgment of the court is affirmed, with costs. And it is so ordered.