Court Opinion

ID: 8635638
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:44:45.808766+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:54.993877
License: Public Domain

WHEELER, District Judge.
With reference to the question certified in this cause by the register, it seems that the bankrupt act expressly saves liens by attachment on mesne process, made the prescribed length of time before proceedings in bankruptcy, from being dissolved by them. The attachment of a debt by trustee process in this state creates a lien that is so saved. Stoddard v. Locke, 43 Vt. 574. That has not been questioned in argument here, but it is insisted that to perfect the lien so that the time would begin to run, there should be service upon or at least actual notice to the principal debtor. But this is governed by a positive provision of the law that applies exactly to the cases described in it and to no others, and leaves no room for construction. The state law under which the lien is created does not require service on nor notice to the defendant in the process, to have the lien attach. Service on the trustee is sufficient for that, if the subsequent proceedings are followed out to judgment. After service on the trustee the lien on the funds in his hands exists and is valid, unless there is some lapse in the proceedings that discharges him from them. This lien is a lien by attachment on mesne process from the beginning and falls within the description of those saved by the bankrupt act; and the holder of it appears to be entitled to-have it saved under the act. Such an attachment is of itself a sort of constructive notice to the defendant, the same as an attachment of chattels is. For by looking after his debt he would find that attached in the hand of his debtor, as by looking after his chattels he would find them attached in the custody of the officer.
For these reasons this court is of the opinion that the decision of the register is correct