Alex Kuhn & Co. v. Embry , 35 La. Ann. 488 ( 1883 )

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

' Bermudez, C. J.

The plaintiffs sue on a note of defendants given in settlement of part of the price of sale of fifteen mules. On claiming vendor’s privilege and making the oath that they fear and believe that the defendants will conceal, part with, or dispose of the mules during the pendency of the suit, they obtained a sequestration of the mules and prayed for judgment for the amount of the note with vendor’s privilege.

The defendants endeavored to have the seizure reduced, opposed the sequestration, alleging the untruth and insufficiency of the affidavit.

They subsequently answered and admitted their signature to the note. They charged unsoundness of the mules, the wrongful issue and execution of the sequestration, alleged damage to their reputation to the extent'of $2,000, and claimed attorney’s fees for $100. ¡ -

The plaintiffs have offered satisfactory evidence to show that their fears were well grounded. They established the sale of the identical mules by the defendants to third parties. The plaintiffs were authorized to take the oatli they did, in the very words of the law. A creditor, in such circumstances, is not always able to swear positively to facts, unless they have actually occurred to his knowledge. Where he lias occasion to apprehend harm and injury from his debtor, it is legitimate for him to swear in the alternative, for it is impossible for him to make oath as to what his debtor positively intends to do. 9 An. 119; 15 An. 462; 8 An. 366, 374, 381; 1 An. 230. Such intention may at any moment be changed and carried out in a different way, as interest may suggest.

The evidence clearly establishes that the note has for its consideration the mules sequestered and that it is secured by privilege. The registry made was unnecessary under the present Constitution, in the absence of any legislation requiring it. Art. 177.

The fact that the defendants sold the mules cannot be controverted. It is no doubt true that by the sale they did not intend to defraud the plaintiffs, but the fact of the sale of the mules, the existence of the privilege and the justified apprehensions, authorized the sequestration, which, having lawfully issued, could cause no damage.

There is no evidence of the unsoundness of the mules.

The case was tried by a jury, who rendered a verdict for the plaintiffs, which was carried out by a judgment under the prayer of the petition.

We see no error in the proceedings below and do not feel authorized' to grant damages for a frivolous appeal.

Judgment affirmed with costs.