Court Opinion

ID: 8189892
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:12:46.432851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:34.217571
License: Public Domain

BabNbs, J.
The practice pursued in this case, to say the least, was irregular. After the case was at issue, but before it was reached for trial, the defendant moved the court to dismiss the action and the motion was granted. The complaint clearly states a cause of action, and unless some proof was offered or some admissions were made on the hearing of the motion it should have been denied. No bill of exceptions was settled in the case, so that all we have before us are the pleadings, the decision of the court, and the judgment. The recitals of fact in the decision and judgment we must *468assume to be true, and if they support the judgment it should be affirmed under ch. 192, Laws of 1909 (sec. 3072», Stats.), notwithstanding the irregularity referred to. There are some admissions contained in the answer which are not negatived by the recitals of the court, and which, we think, may properly be considered. It is there set forth that the defendant did not' satisfy the execution out of the money in his hands until March 17, 1909, and that the plaintiff did not demand the return of his money until the morning of March 10th, being the day after the time for filing the undertaking had expired under the terms of the stipulation. The court found that the undertaking was not filed until March 10th; that no application had been made to the court to extend the time for filing it; that the undertaking was executed and submitted to the attorney for the judgment creditor and was by him approved as early as March 6th; that under sec. 2894c, Stats. (Laws of 1905, ch. 132, sec. 2), no action could be maintained against the defendant; and that in any event, the undertaking not having been filed within the time provided for in the stipulation, the defendant was within his right in using the money to satisfy the execution. The court does not expressly find why the undertaking was not filed sooner, but does say:
“It is urged that the reason the undertaking was not filed within sixty days was that the same was retained by counsel for O’Donnell; but inasmuch as it is conceded that the undertaking was approved by said counsel March 6, 1909, the reason submitted is not considered sufficient to excuse noncom-plianee with the terms of the stipulation regarding the filing of the undertaking.”
This statement would indicate that on the hearing of the motion no showing was made that controverted the allegations of the complaint to the effect that, although O’Donnell’s attorney approved of the sureties on the undertaking, he desired to retain it until he could submit it to his client, who was a practicing attorney, and that he retained the same in *469his possession until 8 o’clock of the evening of March 9th, although demand was made on him to return it sooner, and that it was then too late to filé it until the morning of March 10th. The complaint also alleges that before he satisfied the execution the defendant was advised of the reason of the delay in filing the undertaking. No finding of fact is made on this question.
It will thus be seen that the appeal involves' two propositions: (1) ."Was the sheriff justified under the circumstances in making the disposition of the money which he did? (2) If he was not, can plaintiff maintain this action against him ?
With the meager facts we have before us, the first question is not as easy of solution as it otherwise might be. It seems ■certain that the plaintiff attempted in good faith to file his undertaking and perfect his appeal within the sixty-day period. It further appears that a good and sufficient undertaking was served on the attorney for the judgment creditor three days before that time expired, and we further think it must be assumed that the undertaking was retained by such attorney ■for his own convenience or for that of his client until it was too late to file it before the morning of March 10th. Now, the terms of the stipulation were that, in the event of the plaintiff "neglecting and, refusingp to file the undertaking within sixty days from January 8th, the money deposited with the defendant should be applied in satisfaction of the judgment. The conditions of this stipulation were binding on the defendant. Can it be said that the plaintiff neglected and refused to file the document ? It cannot be held that he refused to do so, although he may have been guilty of some neglect in not either insisting on 'its earlier return or moving the court for an extension of time in which to file. When service was made three days before the time within which to file would expire, and the party on whom the service was made retained the document for his own convenience, and *470neglected or refused to return it, he should not he heard to say that the other party had “neglected” or “refused” to comply with the stipulation, until he had placed such party in a position where he could do so. Case v. Beyer, post, p. 496, 125 N. W. 947. It is a fair assumption that the defendant knew of these facts. It was his business to know before he parted with the money whether the plaintiff had neglected and refused to file the stipulation or had been prevented from so doing by the judgment creditor. We conclude that the plaintiff was excused from filing the undertaking at an earlier date than he did, and that the defendant was not justified under the terms of the stipulation in making the disposition of the money which he did. This conclusion is reached on the meager facts before us.
We do not regard sec. 2894c, Stats. (Laws of 1905, ch. 132), as having any application to the case. The sheriff did not collect the money deposited with him on execution. It was deposited with him as a mere stakeholder to be disposed of according to the agreement of the parties. They had the right to make the agreement which they did. If the statute in question applies, the defendant could not return the money to the plaintiff if the stipulation had been complied with the day after it was made. ‘ The money might as well have been deposited with a person who was not an officer as with the defendant. It being admitted that the money was paid over and accepted under the stipulation, its terms were binding on the defendant. He had no right to disregard the agreement to which he was a party in fact, although he did not sign it. If he did not wish to accept the money under the conditions upon which it was left with him, he should have refused it.
Moreover, the amount due upon the judgment, with interest'and costs, as appears from the answer, was $304.01 when the judgment was satisfied. The amount deposited with the defendant was $325. iWe think the plaintiff was *471clearly entitled to a return of $20.99 on any view of the case, and that the plaintiff should not have been denied recovery because he demanded the entire sum in his complaint.
By the Gowrt. — The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.
Siebeckeb, J.} dissents.