Rice v. Lowry
Rice v. Lowry
Opinion of the Court
J. I. Lowry, sheriff, for the use of the plaintiff in fi. fa., brought suit upon a forthcoming bond signed by W. W. Rice Jr. as principal, and E. B. Stuart as surety. The petition was in two counts; the first count being based on the ground that a portion of the property described had been disposed of prior to the time when it was advertised for sale; and the second count, on the ground that the property was not produced or delivered.at the time and place of sale. It was alleged in each count that the bond had thereby been breached. It was recited in the forthcoming bond that the principal thereof had interposed his claim to the property. No’claim, however, was ever filed. The condition in the bond was for the production of the property to the levy
• The first point raised by the demurrer has been sattled adversely to the defendants’ contention, in Jones v. Kendrick, 94 Ga. 645, (21 S. E. 831), and in McFarland v. Lee, 10 Ga. App. 698 (73 S. E. 1091).
The second question raised by the demurrer is not so easily disposed of. If we could decide it as a matter of first impression, we would be inclined to hold that the terms of the condition of the bond must be followed; and that the bond wás not breached by the disposal of the property prior to the time of the sale, unless the property had been found subject to the execution. It seems, however, that the Supreme Court has definitely decided this question to the contrary. In Reynolds Banking Co. v. Southern Pacific Guano Co., 140 Ga. 498 (79 S. E. 132), and cases there cited, the ruling seems to be substantially made that where a claimant gets possession of the property levied upon under a forthcoming bond, and disposes of the property prior to the time of the sale, the bond is automatically breached, notwithstanding no adjudication that the property is subject to the execution has been made. This ruling seems to be based upon the ground that the claimant by his conduct has rendered it impossible for him to produce The property at the time and place of sale if i;he property should be found subject to the execution. In this ease, if the defendants desired to raise the question as to whether the property was subject to the execution which had been levied upon it, they should have interposed a claim and had it settled on the trial of the claim ease. The failure of the claimant to file a claim was a waiver on his part, both for himself and his surety, of such trial. Certainly the defendants should have kept the property under their control until
Under the above rulings the court did not err in overruling the demurrer to the petition.
Judgment affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the decision upon principle, as well as upon the authority of the case of Reynolds Banking Co. v. Southern Pacific Guano Co., (supra).
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.