Court Opinion

ID: 6230033
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 20:19:47.406966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:57:49.677398
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Lowrie, J.
As between the plaintiff and the garnishee in attachment cases, the payment of costs is the penalty for false claim or false defence: 1 State R. 213; 5 Ser. & R. 447; 2 Dall. 113. The process against the garnishee is but a species of execution to collect from him, or from effects in his hands, a judgment against another person. If successful, the money made is, after deducting the costs of the attachment execution, applied on tbe original judgment. But it is an execution so far collateral to the judgment that it may proceed simultaneously with the ordinary executions: 5 W. & Ser. 222: and if it be vexatious and prodtice nothing, its costs are not taxed in the original case, but must be borne by the plaintiff.
• If the garnishee, on being called on to answer or plead, admit certain effects in his hands, this is equivalent to a tender of them to answer the purposes of the process; and the plaintiff may take judgment accordingly: but thus far there is no judgment for costs .against the garnishee and out of his funds, but only quasi in rem, against the defendant’s funds or effects in his hands.
If the judgment be against money in the hands of the garnishee, and he neglect to pay according to law, he is, of course, liable for the costs of the execution by which his duty is to be enforced. *104If it be against other property in his hands, and the execution be necessary in order to convert it into money, then it would be otherwise.
The case against the garnishee is not instituted as an adversary .suit between him and the plaintiff, and it becomes such only when there arises a dispute between them as to the amount of money or other property in the hands of the garnishee; that is, on or after the filing of the answer or plea.
This dispute is conducted at the costs of the litigating parties. If the plaintiff establish that there is more in the garnishee’s hands than he has admitted, then there will be a judgment against the garnishee personally for the costs; if not, then the garnishee shall have a judgment against the plaintiff for costs.
In the present case, the plaintiff refused to accept the garnishee’s answer, and endeavoured to prove that he had more money in his hands than he admitted; and in this he failed, and is therefore liable for the costs. True, the garnishee admitted, in answer .to interrogatories, that he had $25 of the defendant’s money in his hands, and afterwards, when ruled to plead, pleaded nulla Iona, but this did not affect his admission, or prevent the plaintiff •from taking judgment against the $25; it must be taken to mean no effects beyond the amount admitted. True also, the garnishee .claimed to be allowed his expenses in the case, and this was properly disallowed: 9 State R. 468; but this is not chargeable as a part of the controversy, and was simply a submission to the court to decide whether now or formerly he was entitled to be paid for his trouble and expenses, and what amount.
Judgment. — This cause came on for hearing at the last term of this court at Philadelphia, on writ of error to the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, and was argued by counsel, and thereupon it is considered the said judgment be reversed, and that the plaintiff below do recover from the garnishee Robert Newlin, $25, being so much money of James Gill in his hands, and thereupon be discharged from all liability therefor to the said James Gill, and that the said garnishee do recover from Daniel Miller & Go., the beneficial plaintiffs, his costs of suit in this behalf expended, and that if need be, execution issue according as the balance or difference may be ascertained after the taxation of the costs, and the record is remitted.