Herzog's Cloak & Suit Co. v. Fedorko

[35] The opinion of the court was delivered by Swayze, J. If the constable's possession was lawfully obtained, a demand was necessary. He claimed by virtue of writs against Weiner and clearly he had the right by virtue of those writs to levy on any interest Weiner might have in the property. Whether a mere bailee has an interest in the bailment which is subject to levy is sometimes a question of nicety, as may be seen by comparing Dean v. Whitaker, 1 C. & P. 347; 11 E. C. L. 411, with Arnold v. Hatch, 177 U. S. 276. In the present case we think the bailee’s interest was sufficient to be subject to levy. We assume that the contract was as the plaintiff claims and that the title remained in the plaintiff. It was, of course, subject to the right of Weiner to make up the goods into ladies’ suits and to his lien thereon for his pay. There was nothing to show a termination of this special property and it may have had a value available for Weiner’s creditors. At any rate, we see no reason to think that it was not sufficiently tangible to be subject, to levy. The question does not arise which was present in Farrel v. Colwell, 30 N. J. L. 123, and in Hopkins v. Bishop, 91 Mich. 328; 51 N. W. Rep. 902; 30 Am. St. Rep. 480, where the officer seized property of one person under process against another. It was therefore right to direct a verdict for the return of the goods. But the judgment entered sets forth that tlic- verdict was generally in favor of the defendant and against the plaintiff, that the plaintiff take nothing by its writ, and that the defendant have a return of the goods and chattels, &c. This was not the verdict and should not be set forth as such. The judgment thereupon w’as that the plaintiff be dismissed and that the defendant have a return of the goods and chattels aforesaid and recover his costs. But this was not the proper judgment. The judgment should be that the plaintiff take nothing by its writ, that the defendant go thereof without day and that he have a return of the goods, and recover his costs. The matter is important as the issue joined in the ease was on the question of title and the verdict did not settle that, but only the right to the immediate possession, and care should be taken that the judgment in this [36] ease should not be in such form that it might hereafter be claimed as an estoppel on the question of title. Let the judgment be modified accordingly. The defendant is entitled to costs as he substantially prevails, and the error in the form of the judgment was not appealed from.