Hollywood Credit Clothing Co. v. Autoscope, Inc.
Hollywood Credit Clothing Co. v. Autoscope, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Appellant obtained a judgment against Ethel M. and John Manyette and caused a garnishment to be issued against “Sure Fit Seat Covers Inc.” The garnishment was left at one of the branches of Autoscope, Inc., which does business under the name of “Sure-Fit Seat Cover Center.” Autoscope, through its office manager, answered the garnishment, stating that John Manyette was employed by it at a salary of $60 a week.
Thereafter Autoscope, Inc., mailed its check dated November 14 for $42 to appellant in compliance with the garnishment and the check was deposited November 27. But on November 21 appellant fijed a motion for “judgment of recovery” against Sure Fit Seat Covers Inc. “for failing to remit moneys” under the garnishment.
Much of the confusion in this case results from carelessness of both parties. Appellant ought not to have issued a garnishment against Sure Fit Seat Covers Inc., a non-legal entity. When the garnishment was answered by Autoscope, it ought to have made clear that the answer was that of Autoscope and not that of Sure Fit Seat Covers. But when Autoscope, without objecting to the form of the garnishment, answered it, any defect in the garnishment respecting the name of the garnishee was waived. Having answered, Autoscope was in the case as a proper garnishee.
Although the record is not crystal-clear, it appears reasonably certain that when appellant filed its motion for judgment against Sure Fit Seat Covers for failure to remit under the garnishment,, it had already received the check for $42 from Autoscope. Filing such a motion would appear to have been pure carelessness on the part of appellant, although it may have been due in part to Autoscope’s failure to place its name on the answer to the garnishment.
The question here resolves itself to this: Where a judgment creditor wrongfully moves for judgment against a garnishee, is the garnishee, on successfully opposing the motion, entitled to an award of a counsel fee? Such an award cannot be made unless there is statutory authority for it. The only statutory authority for an award of counsel fee to a garnishee on an attachment after judgment
As the validity of the order requiring the repayment of the $42 is not questioned by appellant, we do not pass upon it. The portion of the order granting an attorney’s fee is reversed.
. Code 1961, § 15-314.
. Code 1961, § 15-317.
. Both parties in their briefs discuss Code 1961, § 16-329, but that section concerns attachments before judgment and has no application here.
. See Peikin v. Williams, D.C.Mun.App., 167 A.2d 355.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HOLLYWOOD CREDIT CLOTHING CO., Inc., a corporation v. AUTOSCOPE, INC.
- Status
- Published