Jensen v. Montgomery
Jensen v. Montgomery
Opinion of the Court
Appellant, Jensen, brought this action against respondent, Montgomery, to recover from him the sum of $370. The case was tried before the court without a jury. Upon findings of the court judgment was had in favor of respondent and against the appellant, dismissing the action. Appellant appeals.
The substance of the findings is as follows: E. Stevenson and C. W. Taggart were partners in business, under the firm name of Stevenson & Taggart, at Ogden, Utah, carrying on a meat market. Thomas H. Evans obtained a judgment against the said firm on the 8th day of January, 1901, and levied upon and sold certain personal property of said firm, and, after applying the proceeds of said sale in payment of said judgment, a surplus of $80 remained in the hands of the "sheriff. The respondent, N. E. Montgomery, obtained a judgment against the said Taggart upon an individual indebtedness of his in the sum of $618, and, upon the issuance of an execution, he levied, on the 21st day of January, upon the interest of the said Taggart in and to certain specific personal property of the said partnership, which was sold, and purchased by the said N. E. Montgomery, for the sum of $40, which was applied upon the said judgment, leaving the greater portion of it unsatisfied. Thereafter H. A. Montgomery purchased from said Stevenson all of his interest (which was one-third) in and to said partnership property, including book accounts. The said N. E. Montgomery purchased all of the interest of the said Taggart (which was two-
“February 7th, 1901. Received of H. A. Montgomery tlie sum of $370.00, proceeds of the sale of tbe property of E. Stevenson and C. W. Tag-gart, copartners under tbe firm name of Stevenson & Taggart, copartnership business under tbe firm name of Excelsior Meat Market, and I hereby promise and agree to pay tbe debts of said firm as same may be agreed upon by Taggart and Montgomery or be established by suit, not exceeding tbe above sum. N. R. Montgomery.”
That tbe said representations were false, and were so made by the said H. A. Montgomery to deceive tbe said N. R. Montgomery, and he was deceived thereby and induced to make tbe said receipt and writing. On March 23, 1901, appellant, Moroni Jensen, in an action wherein be was plaintiff and tbe said E. Stevenson and O. W. Taggart, as copartners under tbe firm .name of Stevenson & Taggart, were defendants, obtained a judgment in the justice’s court against the said O. W. Taggart for tbe sum of $292 and costs, which judgment was based upon a debt of tbe firm of Stevenson & Taggart. On tbe 2d day of January, 1902, appellant caused bis said judgment to be docketed in tbe district court, and thereafter demanded payment thereof from the said N. R. Montgomery; but he declined to pay the same, or any part thereof . On the 30th of April, 1902, an execution having theretofore issued upon tbe said judgment tbe said respondent in said action was summoned as garnishee thereon to answer touching all property and assets in his hands belonging to the firm of Stevfenson & Taggart, and such proceedings were had thereon whereby on said thirtieth day of April a judgment was duly made and entered in-said action in favor of said respondent and against appellant, and whereby it was held that the respondent was not liable as. garnishee, and that the said judgment is in full force and effect, and no appeal has been had therefrom.
2. It will be observed from the foregoing findings that appellant was a firm creditor of Stevenson & Taggart, but when, prior to his judgment of March 23, 1901, he be.came ■such a creditor, is not alleged in the complaint and is not found by the court; that on January 19, 1901, Stevenson •sold all his interest in and to the partnership property to H. A. Montgomery, and about the same time, and prior to February 7, 1901, Taggart sold all his interest in and to the partnership property to N. E. Montgomery, who was also an individual creditor of Taggart. The good faith of and valuable consideration for these sales are unquestioned. It is, •however, claimed that the court failed to find as to the insolvency of the firm of Stevenson & Taggart at the time of their respective sales of partnership property to H. A. and N. E. Montgomery. It is asserted by appellant that said firm was then insolvent, and he declares the law to be, in such case, he, being a firm creditor, had a certain equity in and to the firm property or former assets of the firm, and a right to follow the partnership property or the funds and proceeds thereof in the hands of third parties, and hence the right of appellant to demand of respondent and have paid his debt out ■of the said $370 in the hands of the latter.
In the first place there is no allegation in the complaint that said firm was insolvent at the time of said sales and delivery of said partnership property. These sales were made, •one on January 19, 1901, and the other prior to February 7, 1901. The allegation in the complaint is “that the said firm ■of Stevenson & Taggart are wholly insolvent, and have no property out of which said judgment (appellant’s) can be made.” The said complaint was verified, and filed June 6, 1903, more than two years after the said sales of said partnership property. An allegation in the complaint that said
3. It is also claimed that appellant had the right to maintain this action and recover from respondent on the theory that the promise in writing made by the latter to H. A. Montgomery was for appellant’s benefit as a firm creditor. But this was a matter which was also litigated and determined against appellant in the said former action and proceeding. Furthermore, the finding of the court, well supported by the evidence, is to the effect that the said promise was made alone for the benefit of BE. A. Montgomery, and as and for an in
The judgment of the lower court is- therefore affirmed, with costs to be taxed against appellant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JENSEN v. MONTGOMERY
- Status
- Published