Rhea v. Maxwell
Rhea v. Maxwell
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
For a fuller statement of the facts of this case, see Rhea v. Maxwell, 111 S. C. 460 (98 S. E. 795).
In the former action the appellant brought his action against the respondent in claim and delivery to secure the possession of certain certificates of stock in the Rhea Live Stock Company. On the trial of the case it appeared and was not disputed that the respondent held the stock as security for an unpaid debt. Under that condition, this Court held that. Mrs. Maxwell was entitled to retain possession of the stock until the debt was paid. The fact that a debt existed, but not its amount, that the stock was held as security, and ihe right to hold it, was decided, but nothing more.
The appellant then brought 1 his action for an accounting and to redeem. The defendant pleaded the judgment in the former ad ion as res adjudícala. The plea was sustained on the trial, and- from this judgment this appeal is taken. The only question that it is proper to consider now is: Is the former decision res adjudícala as to this action? The answer is, it is not.
The only question in the former action was the right to possession. When this Court ascertained that the stock was held as security for a debt, it at once held that Mrs. Maxwell was entitled to hold it. The scope of the former action was to determine the right of possession and nothing more. Fearing that the judgment of this Court might be misunderstood, we went out of our way to say what had been decided and what had not been decided. Therefore, we said:
“This is merely a possessory action. What the ultimate rights and equities may be are not affected by this action.”
The effect- of final judgments generally is an academic question in this case. It is res adjudicate/, in this case that *275 no other question has been decided by the former action, except the existence of a debt, the stock as security, and the right of possession at the time the judgment was rendered. This action is the logical sequence of the former decision. It follows that the injunction pendente lite should have been granted, and it is so ordered.
The judgment is reversed.
Reference
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- Rhea v. Maxwell.
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- Syllabus
- Judgment — Judgment in Claim and Delivery Allowing Administratrix to Retain Possession op Stock Not Conclusive Against Right to Redeem. — Where in a former action in claim and delivery to secure possession of corporate stock defendant administratrix was allowed to retain possession solely on the ground that plaintiff was indebted to the estate, and the judgment of the appellate Court stated that only right to possession was involved, such former judgment was not a conclusive adjudication against plaintiff’s right to an accounting and redemption.