Court Opinion

ID: 4934537
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:12:53.834347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:37.313242
License: Public Domain

Libbey, J.
This is replevin of a sleigh and wagon. Plaintiff claims title under a mortgage from one Davis. The property was attached by a deputy, sheriff on a writ against said Davis as his property. At the time of the attachment it was in the possession of Davis. The officer who attached it put it into the possession of the defendant to hold as his keeper or servant. *81Before bringing his action, the plaintiff did not give to the officer or the defendant the notice in writing required by R. S., c. 81, § 44.
The plaintiff does not claim that he could maintain the action against the officer without first giving such notice, but claims that he was not required under the facts in this case to give the notice because the action is not against the officer.
The question„ raised is, whether the defendant can make the same defence that the officer could make if the action was against him. We think he can. The defendant is the servant of the officer, holding the property for him. He has all the rights that his master has. His possession is the possession of the attaching officer and the attachment remains in full force. No other officer could attach the property on a writ against Davis and take it out of the possession of the defendant. The officer who made the attachment might make other attachments against Davis without a new seizure of the property. These principles are too well settled to require citation of authorities. The policy of the statute applies in all its force. It frequently occurs that an officer who attaches personal property cannot keep it in his actual possession all the time but must employ a servant for such purpose.
Can it be that the statute should be so construed that while the officer is present having the actual possession of the property a mortgagee cannot bring an action of replevin and take it from him without first giving the notice, but the moment he is obliged to leave it in the care of his servant the action may be brought and maintained against the servant without the notice ? If so, it is quite easy to evade the statute. The statute should be liberally construed to effectuate its object. Nichols v. Perry, 58 Maine, 29. The action is virtually against the officer. It takes the property out of his posession, and cannot be maintained without the notice required by the statute.

Plaintiff nonsuit.

Peters, C. J., Walton, DaNforti-i, Foster and Haskell, JJ., concurred.