Parmer v. Keith

Maxwell, J. This is an action for malicious attachment. On the trial of the cause in the court below a verdict was rendered, in favor of the defendants and the action dismissed. The principal error relied upon in this court is, that the verdict is against the weight of evidence. The testimony tends to show that the plaintiff was doing business at Norfolk; that he was indebted to the defendant somewhat in excess of $1,800, which was past due; that the claim was-sent to an attorney at Norfolk who called upon the plaintiff and informed him that he wanted the claim paid or secured. The plaintiff stated that he could not pay it then, A proposition was then made to him to'secure it by assigning accounts, or in some other way, which was refused. There is other testimony in the’record to which it is unnecessary to refer. After a delay of nearly two weeks, no satisfactory arrangement having been made, an attachment was levied upon the plaintiff’s stock of goods. In a few days his friends intervened and secured the debt, when the attachment was released. The principal ground upon which damages are claimed is for injury to the plaintiff’s-credit. The mere inability of a debtor to pay his debts will not justify proceedings by attachment. To authorize such proceedings there must exist at least one of the statutory grounds, such as fraudulently contracting the debt, where the debtor absconds or conceals himself, so that summons cannot be served upon him, or is removing or converting his property into money with the intent to defraud his93 creditors. But while inability to pay debts is no just cause for an attachment, it may be a material circumstance as tending to prove that the debtor is converting his property into money or concealing it for the purpose of placing it beyond the reach of his creditors. The question of fraudulent intent is one of fact to be submitted to a jury, whose finding can only be reviewed in some of the modes provided by law. The jury have found against the plaintiff on that question, and the weight of testimony is not so great against the verdict as to justify us in setting it aside. In order to maintain an action for malicious attachment the proceedings must have been instituted maliciously and without probable cause. Three things are necessary to be alleged and proved, viz.: want of probable cause, malice in the defendant, and. damage to the plaintiff. Malice may be inferred from the want of probable cause, but this inference may be repelled by facts and circumstances. Wood v. Weir, 4 B. Monroe, 544. Fortman v. Rottier, 8 O. S., 548. Tomlinson v. Warner, 9 Ohio, 103. The fact that a valid cause of action exists against the debtor is no justification for attaching the debtor’s property without probable cause. We are of the opinion, however, that the evidence fails to show malice, and that therefore one of the necessary ingredients of the action is wanting, and the jury having so found there is no error in the record. Whether or not an action can be maintained on the undertaking is not before the court. There being no error in the record, the judgment must be affirmed. ÍUDGMENT AFFIRMED. The other judges concur.