Crofut v. Brandt

46 How. Pr. 481
New York Court of Common Pleas·Decided February 15, 1874·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

Robinson, J.

The execution in this case was issued out of this court to the sheriff againt the property of the defendant^ upon a judgment of the marine court, which, by virtue of the filing of a transcript in the office of the clerk of the city and county of New York, under the provisions of section 64 of the Oode, became a judgment of this court. It directed, the levy and collection of the amount of the judgment, $989,31, with interest from July 9th, 1872, and on the next day the sheriff levied upon sufficient property of the defendant, consisting of straw and other kinds of hats, and office furniture, situate at 99 Spring street, to satisfy the execution, which was at once advertised for sale. The sale, however, was not commenced until July 16th, when, as it was being proceeded with, it was stopped by an injunction, and whatever deposits had been made by purchasers were refunded them. Under this condition of the case the following bill is presented for taxation by and on the part of the sheriff, for his

fees and charges:

[483] The sheriff, as well as all other public officers are, at common law, entitled to no compensation for performing any acts of official duty, but by statute certain amounts, by way of fees, are allowed to be received and collected by them, but there is a general prohibition against their taking or receiving any other or greater fee or reward for any service than that allowed by law (2 R. S. 630, § 5); also from demanding any fee or compensation allowed by law for any service, unless it is actually rendered (id., § 6), and any violation of these provisions is made a misdemeanor, and the person guilty thereof is made liable to the party aggrieved in treble damages (id., § 7). It is also made the duty of every court, at which a grand jury is summoned, to charge it specially to inquire into any violation of law (Chap. 455 of the Laws of 1841, § 17). ¡Notwithstanding these guards against extortion by public officers, the bill presented, I regret to say, is but' a specimen of those emanating from the sheriff’s office that are brought to the notice of this court. By statute that officer is allowed, for serving an execution for the collection of money, six cents per mile for traveling to make service, for going from the court-house; for collecting the sum of $250, two cents and five mills per dollar, and for every dollar collected more than $250, one cent and two and a half mills; advertising goods and chattels for sale, two dollars, and if the execution be stayed or settled after advertising and before sale, one dollar; for returning a writ, twelve and a half cents (2 R. S., 644 § 33); and by the act of 1850, chapter 225, section 1, he is allowed a further fee of fifty cents for receiving and entering the execution. I find no warrant in any of the statutes for any other charges in addition to these fees for expenses or disbursements incurred in executing such a process. In certain other cases provision is made for his compensation, expenses and disbursements, to wit, by act of 1830, chapter 300, section 57, in certain proceedings by way of attachment in addition to specified fees, he is to be awarded such additional compensation for his trouble and expenses in taking [484] possession and preserving the property attached, also for making an inventory and appraisal and for drafting and copying the inventory, as may be certified or allowed by the taxing officer. So by section 215 of the Code on claim and delivery of personal property he is allowed his lawful fees for taking, and his necessary expenses for keeping the same; and by section 243 on proceeding under a statute authorized by the Code, the same fees and compensation for services, and the same disbursements as are allowed for like services by chapter five of title 1 of part 2 of the Revised Statutes (2 H. 8., 1 to 12), which, according to 2 Revised Statutes, 646, may be allowed him in addition to his fees, that is, such compensation for his trouble and expenses in taking possession and preserving the property attached, as the officer issuing the warrant shall certify to be reasonable. These enactments making express provision for the sheriff’s expenses in other cases, also preclude any implication that is to be tacitly understood that any not mentioned are to be allowed on executions against property.

The sheriff, as well as all other public officers, accepts office upon condition of performing its entire duties for such compensation as is specifically allowed by express provision of law, and without right to claim any other remuneration. This necessarily includes and limits the power of the officer to delegate to any other person any right to any such extra compensation which he could not himself claim. The fees allowed are not quis quid honorarium, but are for doing or performing the service." The officer takes his office cum onere, as well with its honors and profits as with the duty of performing each service required of him by law, however onerous, expensive or responsible. He takes the good with the bad, the cases that are remunerative with those that are expensive, and for such compensation as the law specifically affords. As to some duties, the labor and responsibility may be trifling in comparison with the reward, while as to others it may be wholly inadequate for the trouble and hardship [485] incident to the particular case. In respect to executions for the collection of money, he may, in some cases, collect large sums by voluntary payment or seizure of coin, and easily gain his fees, while in others he may be involved in great trouble and expense in capturing and holding the property until he can effect a sale. Yet in the latter case the law affords him no greater indemnity or remuneration for the service of the execution, notwithstanding any hardship or expense encountered, than in the former. In either case he can only demand or receive the legal fees and allowances made by the statute intended for all eases. Even a promise to pay him extra compensation for extra services in the performance of his official duty or such acts as are incident thereto is void (Chitty on Contracts, 582; Hatch agt. Mann, 15 Wend, 44). And, as senator Tracey in the latter case says, “ that a public officer whose fees are prescribed by statute, may maintain an action to recover an additional sum promised him by a party for doing his official duty is a monstrous proposition, fraught with every kind of mischief. The pretense that it is for extra services, would cover any conceivable corruption or extortion.” Whatever care, labor or expense the condition of the property levied on in this case required, the sheriff was bound to provide, and except as to existing liens, bear as part of his official duty beyond what his fees afford him by way of compensation (Buckle agt. Bewes, 5 D. & R., 495; 3 B. & C., 688; Bilke agt. Havelock, 3 Camp., 374; Slater agt. Haine, 7 M. & W., 413 ; Hatch agt. Mann, 15 Wend., and cases there cited).

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Crofut v. Brandt, 46 How. Pr. 481 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1874).

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