Case Name: Henry B. Bennett and Norman H. Williams v. James Hanley, Sheriff of Wayne County
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1892-04-07
Citations: 91 Mich. 143
Docket Number: 
Parties: Henry B. Bennett and Norman H. Williams v. James Hanley, Sheriff of Wayne County.
Judges: 
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 91
Pages: 143–145

Head Matter:
Henry B. Bennett and Norman H. Williams v. James Hanley, Sheriff of Wayne County.
[See 83 Mich. 449.]
Assignment of judgment — Execution against surety — Set-off.
1. A plaintiff, on the day on which he recovered a judgment in the circuit court, assigned it, as also his claim against the . defendants, to his attorney in payment for his services, and to apply on other indebtedness. The judgment was reversed in the Supreme Court, and on a second trial the plaintiff again prevailed. An execution was issued on the second judgment, and the defendants requested the sheriff to whom it was delivered to set off against it an execution in their favor for the costs awarded them in the Supreme Court, which he refused to do. And it is held that the attorney took the assignment knowing that the judgment was liable to be reversed, and was, at the time of such reversal, the real plaintiff in the suit, and ought equitably to pay the costs of such reversal; and a mandamus is granted to compel the set-off of defendant’s execution.
3. The fact that the judgment in the circuit court was also rendered against a surety, the case having been appealed from justice’s court, will not prevent such set-off; citing Peirce v. Bent, 69 Me. 881.
Mandamus.
Submitted April 5, 1893.
Granted April 7, 1892.
Kelators applied for mandamus to compel the set-off of an execution, etc. The facts are stated in the> opinion.
Barbour & Rexford, for relators.
William S. Sheeran, for respondent.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
George W. Williams sued the relatorsbefore a justice of the peace, and had judgment. Eelators appealed to the circuit court, Frank L. Albert-son being surety on their appeal-bond. Williams recovered judgment in the circuit February 13, 1890. Eelators came to this Court on error,, and the judgment was reversed, October 10, 1890, and costs to the amount of $47.44 were awarded them against Williams. The cause-was remanded to the circuit, and upon another trial, on-the 21st day of November, 1891, Williams again had judgment against relators, for the sum of $132.84, and also against said Albertson as surety. Costs were taxed at $63.15. Execution on this judgment was issued and' placed in the hands of respondent. Eelators had execution for the costs adjudged in the Supreme Court, and requested the sheriff to set the same off against the execution in his hands against them, which he refused to do for two reasons:
1. That the cause of action of Williams had been assigned to Seth E. Engle, February 13, 1890.
2. That the execution from the circuit court runs-against relators and Albertson, and not against the relators alone, and the execution from the Supreme-Court is in favor of the relators alone, and is therefore not the subject of set-off against the circuit court execution, under the statute. Subdivision 4, § 7710, How. Stat.
It is shown by the respondent's return, and affidavits-attached thereto, that Williams on the 15th day of July, 1889, assigned the judgment'taken in justice^ court toEngle, and again on the 13th of February, 1890, assigned to him the judgment recovered in the circuit court, and also his claim against relators. Some time in November, 1891, he confirmed his former assignments by an instrument in writing, which set out that the assignments were made in payment of Engle's services as attorney, and to "apply in part on payment of a note he holds against me for money loaned to me before this suit was brought." Relators have paid to the sheriff, under protest, the amount of the circuit court execution.
It appears that the assignment to Mr. Engle was of the claim of "Williams against relators, and was made before the reversal of the circuit court judgment in this Court. At the time of such reversal, therefore, Mr. Engle was the real plaintiff in the suit, and equitably the costs ought to be satisfied by him, and there is no hardship in setting the same off against the circuit court execution, even if he is a bona fide assignee. He took the assignment of the judgment knowing that it was liable to be reversed, and stands in no better position than the assignor. Northam v. Gordon, 23 Cal. 255. Subdivision 2, § 7710, How. Stat., providing that set-off shall not be allowed when the sum due on the first execution has been lawfully and in good faith assigned to another person before the creditor in the second execution became entitled to the sum due thereon, does not apply in such a case as this.
The fact that the judgment in the circuit court is also against the surety does not prevent the set-off. Peirce v. Bent, 69 Me. 381.
The writ of mandamus will issue to the respondent, commanding him to set off relators' execution against the circuit court execution, and to refund to relators the amount of their said execution, with interest, as prayed in relators' petition.
No costs will be allowed upon this motion.