Opinion ID: 1676049
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Further objections

Text: The trial court found as fact: That the plaintiff and plaintiff's attorneys were fully advised of the above [deputy's decision to return the execution wholly unexecuted for want of finding property to levy upon] yet no action was taken by plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney to further assist the Deputy Sheriff in accomplishing what they were directing the Deputy Sheriff to do; this with full knowledge of the existing above facts. Appellant cites this as prejudicial error. We think that from the record the trial court's finding is well substantiated. Although there was still more than a month to run on the execution after Deputy Sheriff Breske returned it to Appellant's counsel during which time counsel could have examined the bank's prior perfected security interest more carefully or sought other remedies more directly against the debtor, Appellant chose to seek to amerce, a most drastic step and one which the trial court and this bench have found to be worthy only of dismissal. We have found neither willful nor unlawful conduct on the part of either the sheriff or his deputy. The sheriff was incapacitated and had little control over the situation. The deputy exercised due diligence and carried out the duties of his office in responsible fashion, seeking the advice of the state's attorney and providing prompt return of the unexecuted writ with copies of the pertinent documents on file and a full explanation of the reason for his conduct to Appellant's counsel. Whatever may be the conduct which our amercement statute was intended to penalize we cannot say that the conduct of either of the defendant officers in the case before us comes within its proscription. The decision of the trial court is affirmed. DUNN, C. J., and WOLLMAN, J., concur. COLER, J., dissents.