Source: http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/summaryCourtBenchBook/HTML/CivilJ.htm
Timestamp: 2016-09-30 00:06:01
Document Index: 183795529

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 29', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15', '§ 15']

J. Judicial Sales 1. Generally
In most instances, the judicial sale is conducted by the constable, sheriff, or other officer to whom the original document authorizing seizure of the property was issued. However, in at least one instance (Repair and Storage Liens) magistrates are authorized to conduct the judicial sale themselves. (§ 29-15-10). 3. When Sales May Not Be Conducted
No judicial sale of property should be made until after the time for the filing of an appeal of a judgment is past, or until an appeal is heard and the judgment affirmed. (§§ 22-3-300 and 22-3-310). In claim and delivery actions, no sale should be made where a party has posted a bond for the property claimed. (§ 22-3-310). 4. Sales in Different Situations
If the judgment in the claim and delivery action is for the value of the property where it is unable to be delivered, the execution should direct the officer to seize personal property of the party sufficient to satisfy the value stated in the judgment. Here, the execution may order the seizure to cover the value of any costs or damages ordered in the judgment, no matter how minor, since the seizure will necessitate a judicial sale anyway. (§ 22-3-1470). The judicial sale of property seized for either costs and damages alone, or for value plus costs and damages, must be made under the watchful eye of the magistrate (but not with his involvement or control), according to the statutes to insure the terms of his judgment are properly satisfied. The actual terms and procedures of the judicial sale upon the issuance of an execution, depends upon whether the execution issues to a constable or sheriff, or upon the existence of specific statutory direction. As the procedures for sales in claim and delivery and levied executions are the same, they are discussed as a part of the "attachment" discussion, while the procedure for sales in "distraint," as specially provided by statute, come within that section.b. Seizure and Sale in Distraint Actions Upon the proper findings of fact by the judge in a distraint action and the issuance of a distress warrant to a constable or sheriff, the officer should go to the premises of the tenant and seize such personal property (if not exempt from seizure) as is necessary to satisfy the value of the rent and costs. (§ 27-39-240). Within five days after such seizure, the tenant may free his property from the distraint by posting a bond payable to the landlord as directed in § 27-39-310.
Upon the failure of the tenant to post a bond within the required time, the officer may sell the property at a public auction (or judicial sale) to the highest bidder for cash. (§ 27-39-320). The officer must post a notice of such public auction, stating specifically the time and the place of such sale, upon the premises and two other public places in the county for five days. (§ 27-39-320). The landlord or anyone else may be a purchaser at the auction (§ 27-39-340), but any property purchased is taken subject to any existing lien for taxes. (§ 27-39-330). Section 27-39-250 concerns the effect of property of others found on the premises. If any property distrained is not the property of the tenant, the tenant should immediately name the owner and inform the officer. When this occurs, § 27-39-250 should be referred to and followed. Although landlords can distrain property belonging to third parties located on the leased premises, this rule does not exist where there is a publicly recorded security interest which gives the landlord notice of exactly what property on the premises is unavailable to distrain. In Exparte J.M. Smith Corporation In re Greenwood Petroleum Co., Inc. v. Wingard, 341 SC 442, 535 S.E.2d 131, (SC 2000), the Supreme Court ruled that a prior perfected security interest has priority over a landlord’s lien.c. Seizure and Sale on Executions
In the instance of an execution to a sheriff in which personal property must be seized and sold in a judicial sale, the procedure and terms of the sale are dictated by another set of rules found at § 15-39-610, et seq. Where the sheriff is responsible for the execution, he must specify "in an advertisement the property to be sold, the time and place of sale, the name of the owner of the property, and the party at whose suit the sale is to be made." (§ 15-39-660). The advertisement should be published at three public places in the county, one of which should be the courthouse door, and another in a newspaper, for a period of fifteen days prior to the day of sale (§§ 15-39-660, 15-39-650, and 15-29-60). Additional particulars of sheriff's judicial sales are set out in Chapter 39, Article V, at § 15-39-610, et seq. d. Repair or Storage Liens