Roig Commercial Bank v. Heirs of Lugo-Viña
Roig Commercial Bank v. Heirs of Lugo-Viña
Opinion of the Court
delivered tbe opinion of tlie court.
This was a proceeding for the assessment of costs. The plaintiff-appellee filed a memorandum containing the following items: (1) Marshal’s fees and record of attachment, $40j (2) clerk’s fees, $24; (3) expenses of protesting promissory note, $7.50; (4) transcript of record, $12; (5) traveling expenses of counsel to San Juan, $60; (6) record of attachment in the registry of Gruayama, $13; (7) attorney’s fees, $250; total, $406.50.
The error of the lower court in approving the 3rd and 5th items is evident. As a matter of law the protesting of a promissory note on maturity is not necessary. It is required only in cases of bills of exchange in order that • the holders may not be prejudiced. Articles 481, 482 and 483 of the Code of Commerce (sections 8040, 8041 and 8042, Comp. 1911). Nor were the traveling expenses of the attorneys from Humacao to San Juan necessary. The employment of counsel outside of the district in which the action is brought is a matter of interest only to the parties doing so and they must pay the traveling expenses.
As the marshal’s fees and expenses for recording the attachment, amounting to $40, were objected to, they should have been itemized, for there is another item (6th) also for expenses for recording the attachment. This seems still more necessary when taking into account the fees which a marshal is entitled to charge under Act No. 17 regulating the collection of fees and costs in civil cases, etc., .approved March 11, 1915. On page 46 of the session laws of that year this act contains the following:
“A. For each summons_$1.00
“B. For serving an attachment on property_$3.00
. And under letter H it is provided that a charge may be made for traveling expenses to serve any summons, etc., at the rate of $0.25 per mile.
In no part of the schedule is the marshal authorized to charge for recording an attachment. When the attachment is levied he merely gives notice of it to the defendant and issues a notic,e in duplicate for entry in the corresponding registry of property.
The appellants insistently contend that inasmuch as the judgment in the principal action was rendered in default, the award of costs does not include attorney’s fees.
For the foregoing reasons the order of the court below • is reversed as to items 1, 3 and 5, and affirmed as to the others.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.