Charles v. Hoskins

Wright, J. A new trial has been granted in the original case of Hattenback v. Hoskins, ante, and it seems almost, if not quite, unnecessary, therefore, to pass upon the questions made in this. As counsel have presented this cause, however, we shall dispose of one, and that the leading and controlling point in it. The sureties, without alleging fraud or collusion, by their third plea seek to go back of the judgment against the principal, and to show that his act in levying upon the property referred to by plaintiff was not wrongful; for that at the time of the levy, said property belonged to the defendants in the execution, Heineman & Gambert, and not to Hattenback, the claimant. It is conceded that this was the precise question litigated in the original action, but the sureties now insist that the judgment therein rendered is neither conclusive nor prima facie evidence against them. The authorities are not uniform upon the question, but it is believed that the better reasoning is in favor of the [473] doctrine that the judgment is at least prima fade evidence against the sureties. “ When one is responsible by force of law or by contract for the faithful performance of the duty of another, a judgment against that other for a failure in the performance of such duty, if not collusive, is prima fade evidence in a suit against the party so responsible for that other. If it can be made to appear that such judgment was obtained by fraud or collusion, it will be wholly set aside. But, otherwise, it is prima fade evidence, to stand until impeached or controlled, in whole or in part, by countervailing proof.” City of Lowell v. Parker et al., 10 Met., 309, and see also the following cases: McLaughlin v. The Bank of Potomac et al., 7 How., 220; Masser et al. v. Strickland, 17 S. & R., 354; Evans v. Commonwealth, 7 Barr, 265 ; Drummond v. Prestman, 12 Wheat., 515. The principle governing is, that the liability of the surety is dependent upon that of the principal. Though not a party, the surety is not a stranger to the judgment. He covenants that his principal shall discharge certain official duties. When it is once fairly determined by a competent judicial tribunal that there has been a breach of the official undertaking, the liability of the surety prima fade attaches, whether he was a party to the action adjudging the breach or not. In an action against him the surety may show fraud or collusion in obtaining the judgment against the principal, or he may show a mistake in the amount, or that it has been paid. Bergen v. Williams, 4 McLean, 125. And as the surety could claim the benefit of a judgment in favor of his principal, so he is concluded, as above explained, by a judgment against him. Or as applied to this- case, the wrongful conversion of the goods by Haskins, as sheriff, has been once determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; and as the plaintiff cannot recover against the sureties a larger amount than that adjudged against the [474] principal, neither can the sureties go behind such judgment and relitigate the question thus already determined. Reversed.