Ireland v. Litchfield

By the court, Bosworth, Ch. Justice. By the laws in force when the Code took effect, if a plaintiff died after final judgment in his favor, but before execution issued, no execution could be issued on the judgment until it had been revived by scire facias at the suit of his personal representatives. (2 Saunders, p. 6, note 1, and id., p. 72, m; 72, n, and 72, o ; Gra. Pr., 806 ; Troup agt. Wood, 4 John. Ch. R., 247-249; Baldwin agt. Hale, 17 John. R., 271; Murphy agt. Cochran, 1 Hill, 339 ; and 2 R. S., 576, §§ 2 and 3 ; id., 386, § 2.) [180] Section 428 of the Code abolishes “ the writ of scire facias,” the writ of quo warranto, &c.; but it declares that “ the remedies heretofore obtainable in those forms, may be obtained by civil actions under the provisions of this chapter.” As this section, in express terms, authorizes an action to be brought, there does not seem any basis to uphold an argument that one cannot be brought. Section 283 [238] does not affect the question. It authorizes an execution to be issued as a matter of course, at any time within five years after the entry of judgment. By 2d R. S., 365, § 1, one might be issued as a matter of course, within two years after filing the record of judgment. But in either case, and in one as well as in the other, if the plaintiff die before execution issued, it is essential that the judgment should be revived in the name of the personal representative of the deceased party. Section 284 [239,] which provides that “ after the lapse of five years from the entry of judgment, an execution can be issued only by leave of the court, upon motion,” is only applicable where the parties to the judgment are living. Under any other construction sections 284 and 428 would conflict with each other. This construction is further favored by the provisions of section 284, which require that it be established “ by the oath of the party” or other satisfactory proof, that some part of the judgment is unpaid, and that the motion be made “ upon personal notice to the adverse party,” unless he be absent, &c. The execution to be issued as a matter of course, under section 283, or pursuant to leave granted under section 284, must be in such form as section 289 prescribes. Section 289 requires that it be in the name of the party plaintiff of record, (if the judgment be in his favor,) and against the persons against .whom the recovery was had. Such an execution is not adapted to the cases provided for by 2 R., S., pp. 577, 578, §§ 5 to 11 inclusive. [181] Section 471 [390] declares that the second part of the Code “ shall not affect * * any existing statutory provisions relating to actions not inconsistent with this act, and in substance applicable to the actions hereby provided,” &c. And § 428, while it abolishes the writ of scire facias, and other writs named'in it, enacts that the remedies heretofore obtainable in those, forms, “ may be obtained by civil actions under the provisions of this chapter.” The fact that the subsequent sections of that chapter do not contain any provision in respect to an action to revive a judgment, does not restrict the remedy by action under it to those Cases alone, which are specified in the special provisions found in that chapter. The cases thus specified are to be prosecuted under or subject to those provisions, as well as subject to the general provisions of the Code in relation to actions generally. The phrase, “ under the provisions of this chapter,” is not a limitation of the natural and ordinary meaning of the words immediately preceding it, but is merely designed to declare that the remedies theretofore obtainable by scire facias, although they may be obtained thereafter by civil action, shall be subject to the special provisions of that chapter, in respect to the cases to which such provisions relate. In the opinion of the legislature nothing more was requisite, while abolishing the writ of scire facias, to revive a judgment and authorizing the remedy previously had under it to be obtained by action, than to retain by enactment the existing statutory provisions relating to the subject matter, not inconsistent Avith the Code, and in substance applicable to the actions provided for by it. It can hardly be supposed that it Avas designed the .Code should repeal 2 R. S., 577, § 3, or the substance of sections 6, 7 and 9 of the same title. To allow the remedy to be had by action which before the Code could be obtained by scire facias alone, is merely giving to the language of section 428 a [182] construction in accordance with its natural and obvious import. To hold that section 428 gives no such remedy, and that section 121 prescribes the course to be pursued, requires an unnatural construction to be given to the latter section. The latter section applies to the cases of death, marriage, or other disability occurring between suit brought and judgment recovered. It is an unnatural use of language, to speak of a cause of action which has been prosecuted to judgment, as surviving or continuing after the death of a party to the judgment. That section provides for the several cases covered by 2 R. S., title 1, chap. 7, part 3, entitled “ of the abatement of suits by death, marriage or otherwise, and of their revival,” and by 2 R. S., pp. 184, 185, §§ 113-126 inclusive, and meets some cases which the new system of practice made it expedient to provide for, and which were not reached by the Revised Statutes; as allowing persons succeeding by actual transfer of the cause of action, to be substituted as parties, as well at law as in equity. In Joy agt. Martine. (2 Duer, 654,) it was held that an execution upon a judgment could not be issued upon the application of the executors of a deceased plaintiff, upon motion. Although this is the decision of a single judge, it was made upon consultation with other judges of the court, and received their approbation. (2 Duer, 607, note a.) The decision was approved by Mr. Justice Emott, in Wheeler agt. Dakin, (12 How., 537.) Judge Mitchell, in Thurston agt. King, (1 Abb. R., 126,) held the remedy by action clear, and denied a motion, made by the executor of a deceased plaintiff, for leave to issue execution. The Code has not unqualifiedly prohibited an action upon a judgment by one of the parties to it against the other ; and as this court has construed section 73, a bona fide assignee of a judgment may bring an action upon it with [183] out obtaining leave of the court. (Tuffts agt. Braisted, 4 Duer, 607 ; and see Wheeler agt. Dakin, 12 How., 540.) We think that the relief sought in this case, and which, prior to the Code, was obtainable only by scire facias, may now be had by action, and that section 428 of the Code expressly so provides. But it is insisted that the court had no power to award costs. We think it a sufficient answer that (assuming the case is not one provided for by section 304 [259] of the Code) section 306 [261] confides it to the discretion of the court, whether to allow costs or not. With the exercise of that discretion, even if we have the power, we see no occasion to interfere. The judgment must be affirmed. Ordered accordingly.