Court Opinion

ID: 7101050
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:15:48.378732+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:24.627547
License: Public Domain

Rothrock, Ch. J.
If the court was in error in overruling the motion to strike the sworn answers from the files, it was without any prejudice to the plaintiffs. The garnishee was then present in court ready to be examined as such, in such manner as should be required by the court. He remained personally present until the last order was made in the case, and was ready and willing to answer as directed by the court. If the order, as made by the court as to his examination, is such as is authorized by la\V, the sworn answers previously made, although they may have been improperly filed, were no prejudice to the plaintiffs, because they would have in no manner interfered with an examination of the garnishee upon questions and answers.
The case, then, turns upon the question whether it was the right of the plaintiffs to examine the defendant on oath before the court, or before a commissioner to be appointed by the court, without let or hindrance as to the pertinency of the *70examination; or was it within the power and discretion of the court to require that written interrogatories should be filed, the competency of which should be passed upon by the court before being answered by the defendant?
Section 2982 of the Code provides that “ the questions propounded to the garnishee in court may be such as are above prescribed to be ashed by the sheriff, and such others as the court may think proper and right.”
We think that, under this provision of the statute, it is within the discretion of the court to require that questions shall be reduced to writing and submitted to the court before answer. It is true that the court might require the garnishee to appear before it and submit to an oral examination, and the court could then and there determine whether the questions propounded were proper and right. But this is not practicable. Courts, while in open session, usually have more important business than to preside over a proceeding by which counsel are seeking by a legal drag-net to discover property or credits in the hands of a garnishee. The examination is usually conducted by a commissioner. But, if a commissioner is appointed, the court is not absolved from determining what are and what are not proper questions. The garnishee may refuse to answer before the commissioner, and the matter must then be referred to the court. It is not improper for the court to determine upon the line of examination before it is commenced. The plaintiffs cannot be prejudiced by this course of proceeding. He has the right to take issue with the garnishee, and try the question as to his liability in the regular method for the trial of an action.
In our opinion, there was no abuse of the discretion of the court in making the order complained of, and we think that plaintiffs have no substantial cause of complaint.
Affirmed.