Westervelt v. Frost ( 1854 )

Roosevelt, J.

Frost, it appears, was a judgment creditor. His debtors, although not in possession, were supposed by him to be the owners of certain goods. Another person, however, of the name of Post, claimed the ownership, and the sheriff accordingly before completing his execution, demanded of Frost a bond of indemnity, which was given. Post sued the sheriff for trespass in making a levy on the goods, and recovered a judgment for $1228 04, which the sheriff had to pay, besides $268 63, the costs of his defence. He now brings this, action on the bond of indemnity, to reimburse his loss.

The defendants insist that the bonds under the circumstances, was unlawfully exacted. The goods it seems had actually been sold by the sheriff before he demanded the bond; but he refused (having received notice of the adverse claim) to pay over the proceeds without the bond of indemnity. Frost gave the indemnity, and demanded and received the avails of the sale, with full knowledge of the claim of Post. He thus not only ratified, but insisted on the sale; and having adopted the act of the sheriff—which it is not pretended was other than bona fide,—and his own attorney in the execution .having even attended the sale, he was both legally and morally bound to abide by the consequences of a levy and sale made with his approbation and for his benefit. He should therefore be estopped from denying either the date of the bond which is before the sale, or the recitals in it, which are in conformity with the right of the case.

There is hardship either way. It was a great seeming folly on the one side to incur a liability of $1000, on a judgment of less than $100, and great seeming wrong on the other, to subject a public officer, acting in good faith, to the undivided loss of fifteen hundred dollars, for a commission perhaps not exceeding fifteen.

On the whole, the verdict for $1000 in favor of the sheriff, (the extent of the penalty of the bond) would seem to do no. more than justice to that officer. The sale was no doubt a most unfortunate one. Such was the damaged appearance of the goods in consequence of the fire, that although nearly one hundred persons attended the auction, scarcely one tenth the actual value of the goods was realized. Sheriff’s sales, however, are never expected to come up to the standard of private bargains. The law requires them to be made by public auction, and of course assumes that the articles levied on, are to be disposed of at auction prices.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.