75 Ga. 83 | Ga. | 1886
This is the grant of an injunction and appointment of a receiver on a bill with amendments, which alone was before the chancellor, all its allegations being admitted as true, and no answer or other deposition being before the chancellor on the hearing. The bill was brought by laborers for weekly and monthly wages connected with the show against Orton, his wife and various other defendants who claim interest in or ownership of the property belonging to the show. The complainants allege that the defendants are about to move all their property, consisting of horses, etc., beyond the limits of Georgia, with a view to defeat the payment of debts owing to them for labor in various sums from some two hundred dollars down; that they brought their material to the verge of the Georgia line with that view; that they have fraudulently conspired and confederated, on their getting the property beyond the state, to divide the proceeds among themselves and
The chancellor granted the injunction and appointed the sheriff, who had in hand much of the property attached, receiver, and these are the errors complained of and assigned.
1. Equity has jurisdiction concurrently with law in all cases of fraud. Code, §3172; 2 Ga., 304. The courts of equity more readily raise and act upon a presumption of fraud than courts of law, from facts pointing thereto. 31 Ga., 150. The rankest sort of fraud is admitted by the demurrer in this case, covered up by different claimants to the property in the show, there being three or four claiming proprietorship of the concern, and it being quite difficult to determine against whom to proceed as the real owner.
2. In case of circuity of actions and multiplicity of suits,
3. “ A court of equity may appoint a receiver to take possession of and hold subject to the direction of the court any assets charged with the payment of debts, where there is manifest danger of loss, or destruction, or material injury to those interested.” Oode, §3149. In the case at bar, there are assets on which these laborers have a lien, and the only chance to get their debts paid is these assets; they are in danger of absolute loss by being removed out of the state by insolvent debtors. There is “manifest danger of loss ” and “ of material injury ” to complainants. Equity should lay its hand upon them and save these creditors. So, too, “ when any fund or property may be in litigation, and the rights of either or both parties cannot otherwise be fully protected, ... a receiver of the same may be appointed by the judge of the superior court having jurisdiction thereof, on a proper case made.” Oode, §274. These people cannot, be fully protected otherwise, and the judge of (he superior court having jurisdiction, that is, sitting as chancellor on a proper case made, should intervene and lay hands on the fund by his receiver for preservation and distribution among creditors.
4. These complainants have no complete remedy at law. They do not know which one of these fraudulent conspira
5. Nor is the case subject to the objection that complainants are not judgment creditors, and cannot invoke injunction and the appointment of a receiver in such a case, as held in Cubbedge & Hazelhurst vs. Adams
These complainants are creditors; they are laborers and creditors for labor done by them; they are lien creditors, and are about to be defeated by the entire loss of the only assets which their lien covers and can reach; their debtors are non-residents and insolvent; surely equity will relieve them, and though they are not permanent citizens of this state, the most of them, yet equity will do for them, while on the soil of Georgia, as much as she would for the citizens of the state. Therefore we see no error in the appointment of a receiver and the grant of the injunction.
Judgment affirmed.
42 Ga., 124.