Court Opinion

ID: 6255642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 21:29:54.534715+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:32.472997
License: Public Domain

Opinion by
Mr. Chief Justice Moschzisker,
On March 31, 1920, Charles V. O’Donnell, defendant, executed two promissory notes in favor of the Aldine Trust Co., the garnishee here, one for $8,500, payable August 2, 1920, and the other for $17,500, payable November 30, 1920. The debts so evidenced were secured by an assignment, as collateral, of a bond and mortgage on real estate, from Emanuel Barrick to defendant, for $57,000, subsequently reduced to $55,500.
June 7,1920, Frank O. Hancock, plaintiff, obtained a judgment against defendant, damages being assessed at $6,058.80; he forthwith issued an attachment sur judgment, summoning the Aldine Trust Company as garnishee. Interrogatories were filed by plaintiff and answered by the trust company; from these answers, it appears that, on October 20, 1920, after default by defendant, the garnishee placed the bond and mortgage, assigned to it as collateral, in the hands of a public auctioneer, who duly sold them for $36,500, and the lat*116ter accounted for this sum, less a fee of $731.50, deducted for services rendered in the sale of the securities. From the amount received, garnishee paid out, to various execution creditors, sums of money set forth hy it, leaving $2,880.83 on hand. January 13, 1922, plaintiff ruled garnishee to show cause why judgment should not be entei’ed in his favor for this $2,880.83, with legal interest; the rule was made absolute. Another rule was entered against garnishee for judgment in the sum of $1,600, an amount as to which plaintiff alleged the answers filed were insufficient, the item in question having been deducted by garnishee as counsel fees “charged for collection of said notes and mortgage, and advice upon the sale [thereof], under and by virtue of the authority contained in the......notes......as follows: ‘After deducting all legal and other costs, expenses of collection, sale and delivery, to apply the residue of proceeds of such sale or sales so made, to pay any, either or all of said liabilities as the holder thereof may deem proper, returning the overplus to the undersigned.’ ”
In making absolute the last-mentioned rule, the court below well states: “We are of opinion the sum of $1,600 cannot be withheld by garnishee as a counsel fee. The attachment was laid before the pledged mortgage was sold at auction. It is true the collateral note contained a provision for the deduction of all legal and other expenses, but there is no averment in the answer of any services rendered which could properly be regarded as legal services. The mortgage was sold at auction. A large fee was paid the auctioneer for his services; this was properly deducted. No legal proceedings were instituted, nor were any such necessary. Nothing was done to protect or preserve the security which called for the services of counsel. It is therefore wholly insufficient to set up a charge for services ‘in connection with the sale and collection of the collateral pledged’ or for advice.”
The judgment is affirmed.