Court Opinion

ID: 9550609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:38:14.20049+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:58.526504
License: Public Domain

Schwellenbach, J.
(dissenting) — In the case of Levy v. Fleischner, 12 Wash. 15, 40 Pac. 384, in addition to the rule quoted by the majority, the court also said:
“A reasonable ground is nothing but a probable cause, and if it be conceded that the probable cause existed by reason of the fact that the action was brought by the advice of attorneys to whom the facts were submitted, then it could not be very well established that the action was brought without reasonable cause.”
Now, what was the situation' here? The officers of the hospital association made a full disclosure of all the facts to its attorney. The attorney was confronted with two problems; whether or not a contract existed, under the facts, and whether or not the existence of a contract constituted a ground for attachment. He advised them that a contract did exist and that such existence constituted a ground for attachment. Acting upon that advice, the writ was sued out.
In Taylor v. Wilbur, 177 Wash. 437, 31 P. (2d) 1016, the court said:
“To recover on an attachment bond, the statute requires that the plaintiff must show that the attachment was wrongfully sued out, ‘and that there was no reasonable cause to believe the ground upon which the same was issued to be true, etc.’
“The trial court found upon a preponderance of the evidence, as we view it,
“ ‘That the defendant herein Carl E. Wilbur, after conferring with his attorneys with respect to his right to bring suit and action upon said promissory note and after fully and fairly disclosing to his said attorneys all facts within his knowledge relating to said note and said contract, was ad*848vised by his said attorneys that he had a good and meritorious cause of action against the makers of said note and had the right to attach property not exempt from execution belonging to the makers of said note and to garnish debtors of the makers and upon said promissory note. That in consulting with his said attorneys, who are reputable members of the Bar of this State, the said defendant Wilbur fully, fairly and truthfully communicated to his said attorneys all of the facts within his knowledge and which he was able to obtain respecting said note and said agreement and all facts and circumstances surrounding and in connection therewith.’
“The court further found that, acting upon the advice of his attorneys and in pursuance thereof, he (plaintiff) commenced suit on the note and caused the writ of attachment to issue. The facts thus established to the satisfaction of the court bring-the case within the rule of probable or reasonable cause, and prevent recovery on the attachment bond. Levy v. Fleischner, Mayer & Co., 12 Wash. 15, 40 Pac. 384) Voss v. Bender, 32 Wash. 566, 73 Pac. 697.”
I feel that we are compelled to reverse.