Cooper v. Bailey

Jenks, J.: I think that the order should be affirmed. The plaintiff could issue execution at any time within five years after the entry of judg [360] ment. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1375.) But after five years, issue of execution was prohibited, without an order of leave made by the court,, unless during that period an execution had been issued and returned, wholly or partly unsatisfied or unexecuted. (Id. § 1377,) As it appears in. this case that such execution had been issued within the-said five years, the issue of the second execution was the legal right: of the plaintiff, and no application to the court was necessary. (Wade v. De Leyer, 40 N. Y. Super. Ct. 541; appeal dismissed, 63 N. Y. 318; Field v. Paulding, 3 Abb. Pr. 139; Wilgus v. Bloodgood, 33 How. Pr. 290; Van Rensselaer v. Wright, 121 N. Y. 626, 630.) I think that the application to the court for leave was not an election of inconsistent remedies. The. plaintiff sought to issue execution, and his personal attorneys, unaware of the issue of any previous execution, applied- to- the- court for leave, supposing that: they were required to do so by section 1377. It was thereafter-ascertained that, as plaintiff was within the exception of that statute, he could issue such execution as matter of right; The steps-taken were merely in the procedure supposed to be necessary to enforce the same remedy — that of execution. It appears by defendant’s affidavit that “ several years ago ” a, receiver in supplemental proceedings brought against deponent’s property was appointed, who collected moneys.; that a reference in his accounting was pending; that certain successors of said receiver were appointed, and that no notice of any intention to issue execution was ever given to such receivers. The point is made that the issuance of said execution, without such notice and without leave of court, was a contempt, and authorities are cited to the effect that an attempt to deprive an officer of the court of property in his possession is a willful contempt. It is to be noted that it nowhere appears that such receiver was appointed prior to the entry of plaintiff’s-judgment. Such receiver and his successors simply stood in the place of the plaintiff in the action at whose instance he was-appointed. (Kennedy v. Thorp, 51 N. Y. 174.) In National Bank v. Bussing (147 N. Y. 670) the court, per Bartlett, j., say: “ It must be constantly kept in mind that the receiver is appointed in proceedings supplementary to the execution, and takes no such absolute title to real estate as would enable him to sell it when it is [361] subject to the lien of judgments and can be sold under executions issued thereon in the manner pointed out by statute and subject to all rights of redemption. The receiver’s title to the real estate is a qualified one in the nature of a security for the plaintiff in the judgment; it does not divest the debtor of the legal title, but the latter’s conveyance of the premises would be subject to the claim of the receiver.” (See, too, Brown v. Chubb, 135 N. Y. 174; McCorkle v. Herrmann, 22 N. Y. St. Repr. 519; Bunn v. Daly, 24 Hun, 526.) I can see no contempt in the procedure of the plaintiff. The statute gave him a positive right to issue this execution, provided he had issued a previous execution, otherwise he must ask the leave of the court. He sought a favor, not knowing that he had a right. When he learned of his right, he proceeded upon it. He did not require the favor, and did not press for it. The order must be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements. All concurred. Order affirmed with ten dollars costs and disbursements.