Court Opinion

ID: 6502173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:14:53.258306+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:38.489555
License: Public Domain

COLLIER, C. J.
The act of 1818, after providing that a garnishment may be issued where the plaintiff or other credible person shall make affidavit that the defendant has no property in his possession, &c., authorizes the court, to cause the person supposed to be indebted, &c., to be summoned to appear forthwith before such court, as a garnishee, &c. [Clay’s Dig. 259, sec, 2.] By summoning the garnishee, is meant nothing more than to give him notice of the contents of the process issued against him, that he may appear at the time it prescribes. True, the garnishment, like all other process, should be served by the proper executive officer; yet, as it is intended as a mere notice to the garnishee, it is entirely competent for him to dispense with this mode of service, by his written acknowledgement that he has received, or dispenses with service. This has been done in the present case, as the motion of the garnishee admits. Not only, has the defendant in error admitted that he was served with the process, but he has submitted his answer in writing; and this, at least, should, upon principles, founded both in analogy and sound reasoning,, foreclose all objection as to the manner in which he was brought before the court. In other cases, the acceptance of service of a writ, or an actual appearance without it, has always been regarded by us as equivalent to its execution *298by a competent legal officer. In fact, it would be trifling with the dignity which should distinguish judicial proceedings, to permit one who has come into court voluntarily, or by coercion, and submitted to its action, to object that he had not been regularly brought in.
The judgment of the county court is sought to be sustained by the case of Lawrence, Rapelye & Co. v. Ware, [1 Stewt. Rep. 33.] In that case, an original attachment was issued at the suit of the defendant in error against the plaintiffs, in September, 1823, and a summons for J. D. & Co. was served on their agent. In the fall of 1825, two years afterwards, J. D. answered on oath before a justice of the peace, and his answer was brought into court, admitting that he had notes of the defendants in his hands for a certain sum, and consenting that a judgment might be rendered against him therefor. The court were of opinion that the affidavit was voluntary, and not in obedience to any process; and held that it was important the examination of the garnishee should be in open court, in order to protect the rights of absent defendants, and to prevent the abuses to which this mode of instituting an action is liable. The mere statement of this case will, at once show, that it is unlike the oúe at bar. There, the garnishee’s answer was made out of court; here, he appeared in obedience to process, and submitted to answer in open court. Neither was the service of the garnishment made or accepted by the garnishee. And, besides, the defendants in attachment were themselves complaining of the irregularity. Whether this state of facts warranted the judgment of the court in that case, it is not necessary to inquire. They are quite sufficient to distinguish the cases from each other. [Smith v. Chapman & Brother, 6 Porter’s Rep. 369,70.]
It results from what has been said, that the judgment of the county court is reversed, and the cause remanded.