McNamara v. Hammerslag
McNamara v. Hammerslag
Opinion of the Court
Suit on an undertaking given under section 540, Code of Civil Procedure. The complaint avers the issuance of the attachment, and that under it the sheriff attached “certain property” (not stating what kind or of what value), and that the defendants, being desirous of having the property attached released therefrom, executed the undertaking. A copy of the undertaking is attached to the complaint. The undertaking, after reciting the issuance of the writ and the command thereof, states, “now, therefore, we,” etc., “in consideration of the premises, and to prevent the levy of said attachment, do hereby,” etc.
The point presented by the appellants is that, as the undertaking recites that it was given to prevent a levy, the allegation of the complaint being that it was given to release a levy, the judgment cannot be sustained. The question here involved was substantially considered in the first paragraph of
Judgment affirmed.
We concur: Sharpstein, J.; Morrison, C. J.
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We concur in the judgment: Thornton, J.; McKinstry, J.
Dissenting Opinion
I dissent. The allegations of the complaint are that, in an action, a writ of attachment was issued, which was levied on certain property belonging to the defendant in the action; that for the purpose of having the property attached released from the attachment, “the defendants herein executed and delivered to the plaintiff a written undertaking, a copy of which is hereto attached, marked exhibit ‘A,’ and made a part of this complaint”; and that upon the execution and delivery of the bond, the attachment was discharged and the property was released, yet the defendants have refused, on demand, to pay the amount of the judgment rendered in the attachment suit against their principal in the bond, and hence the suit upon the bond. Reference in a pleading to an exhibit as part of a pleading is not pleading; it is merely evidential: Mayor and Common Council of Los Angeles, etc., v. Signoret, 50 Cal. 298. The cause of action as stated in the complaint is therefore upon a bond given for the release of property which had been attached.
The answer specifically denies the allegations of the complaint. There was no finding of facts, but judgment was given for the plaintiff. Impliedly, the court found all the facts as alleged in the complaint. But the bond referred to in the complaint was not a bond for the release of property which had been taken in attachment. Its recitals are substantially : Whereas, an attachment has been issued and placed in the hands of the sheriff for execution, whereby he is commanded to attach and safely keep all the property of the defendant within his county, not exempt from execution, or so much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy the demand of the plaintiff in the action, as stated in his complaint, unless a bond be given in amount sufficient to satisfy the demand, and
In Percival v. McCoy, 13 Fed. 379, 4 McCrary, 418, the complaint alleged that a bond was executed and delivered by the sureties to the plaintiff as sole obligee; but the bond referred to in the complaint recited that it was given to five persons as obligees, one of whom was the plaintiff. “It seems clear,” says the court in the case, “that if this bond were offered in evidence under such an allegation there would be a fatal variance between the instrument as set out and the proof. Granting that the plaintiff might sue alone, .... without joining the other obligees, he must, nevertheless, set out and state the bond correctly, with proper allegations, showing that he alone has received injury by the breach, and therefore that he brings the suit without joining the other obligees as plaintiffs. But he cannot set out a bond as running to or made to himself alone, and give in evidence an instrument to himself jointly with other obligees.”
I think the judgment should be reversed: Laveaga v. Wise, 13 Nev. 296 ; Coburn v. Pearson, 57 Cal. 306.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McNAMARA v. HAMMERSLAG
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 'Attachment—Variance.—In a Suit on an Undertaking Given to Prevent a levy, where the complaint states that it was given to release a levy, the variation is not material.