Ferris v. Independence Indemnity Co.

12 P.2d 148, 124 Cal. App. 154, 1932 Cal. App. LEXIS 810
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 7, 1932
DocketDocket No. 877.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 12 P.2d 148 (Ferris v. Independence Indemnity Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ferris v. Independence Indemnity Co., 12 P.2d 148, 124 Cal. App. 154, 1932 Cal. App. LEXIS 810 (Cal. Ct. App. 1932).

Opinion

SCOVEL, J., pro tem.

Prior to the filing of the complaint involved in this appeal, the United States of Mexico had filed an action in claim and delivery in the Superior Court of San Diego County against Peter Rash seeking recov *155 ery of a patrol boat known as the “Tecate.” In that action Bask answered setting up a lien for repairs on the boat. Upon filing the complaint the United States of Mexico filed with the sheriff of San Diego County a claim and delivery bond executed by the Independence Indemnity Company, defendant here, conditioned for the prosecution of the action, return of the boat if return should be adjudged, and the payment of all moneys recovered in the action, whereupon the boat was delivered to the United States of Mexico. At the trial judgment was entered in the superior court in favor of Peter Bask wherein it was found he was entitled to the sum of $12,961.61 for the repairs on the boat and to a lien thereon by virtue thereof, together with $463.62 damages and costs in the sum of $65; and that by virtue of said lien he was entitled to possession of the boat. It was therefore ordered that the United States of Mexico return the boat to Peter Bask, or, in case return could not be had, pay him the sums mentioned. The judgment was signed on May 10, 1930, and filed on May 12, 1930. A few days later and prior to any appeal, the present action was filed by plaintiffs herein, Alda M. Ferris claiming a partial assignment of the judgment, alleging the boat had not been returned and asking judgment against defendant as surety on the claim and delivery bond, for the amount of the judgment above.

After the filing of this action an appeal was perfected by the United States of Mexico, plaintiff in the first action, no stay bond, however, being filed. The Independence Indemnity Company answered in the present suit alleging that the action was premature by reason of the pending appeal in the case of United States of Mexico v. Rask, (Civil No. 471) 118 Cal. App. 21 [4 Pac. (2d) 981], and asserting that the court was without jurisdiction in that action to render a judgment against a foreign power or to adjudicate a maritime lien. The action came on for trial and in support of their complaint plaintiffs offered in evidence the judgment-roll in the case of United States of Mexico v. Rask, supra. Defendant objected on the ground that the judgment was not final and on the further ground that it was void as without jurisdiction of the court to render. The objection was overruled and both sides rested. Judgment was entered in favor of plaintiffs. From this judgment defendant ap *156 peals. Pending the appeal, P. E. McCaffrey was substituted as party plaintiff and respondent in the place and stead of Alda M. Ferris.

Appellant makes but one point on the appeal, that the trial court erred in admitting the judgment-roll in the case of United States of Mexico v. Bash, supra, first, because the judgment therein was not final, and, second, because the court was without jurisdiction to render the same. Before the submission of this appeal, the appeal in the case United States of Mexico v. Rask, supra, was determined by this court (118 Cal. App. 21 [4 Pac. (2d) 981]), wherein it was decided that the court had jurisdiction to render the judgment. The decision disposes of that portion of this appeal.

There remains for determination the question as to the admissibility of the judgment-roll pending the appeal from the judgment. Both appellant and respondent concede the general rule to be that a judgment does not become final until it has been finally determined on appeal and that a right of action upon a judgment does not mature until the judgment becomes final.

Respondents assert that the present action is not upon a judgment but upon an independent and collateral contract executed pursuant to statutory authority, the liability thereon being established by the terms of the contract and the statute and not dependent upon the finality of the judgment. The bond is in the usual form, given pursuant to section 512 of the Code of Civil Procedure and conditioned as therein prescribed “for the prosecution of said action, for the return of the property to said defendant if return thereof be adjudged, and for the payment to the said defendant of such sum as may from any cause be recovered against the said plaintiff”. From this it is aruged that liability under the bond attaches when a judgment is recovered and payment thereof not made whether the judgment be appealed from or not. Appellant asserts, however, that a return is not “adjudged” or a judgment “recovered” within the meaning of the bond, until the fact is determined in a final judgment.

We are of the opinion that the present action is not upon the judgment but upon the bond (Bailey v. Aetna Indemnity Co., 5 Cal. App. 740, at 745 [91 Pac. 416]), and that therefore resort must be had to the statute and the bond for a *157 determination of the meaning of the words “adjudged” and “recovered”.

It will be remembered that Peter Bask was claiming a lien on the boat for repairs, and was holding possession to secure the lien and satisfy the same through execution or order of sale under any judgment establishing his right thereto. Upon the recovery of any judgment he might immediately cause the property to be sold and satisfy his claim. Under such circumstances the statute provides for a bond conditioned for a return of the property and the payment of any judgment recovered. And knowing that he could thus immediately satisfy any judgment obtained the bond herein was executed replacing the security held by defendant. (Bailey v. Aetna Indemnity Co., supra.) We do not believe that the statute authorizing the bond contemplated depriving the defendant of any legal remedy he might have nor that such was the intention of the parties in executing the bond. Bather was it a statutory alternative given to the plaintiff whereby he might elect to substitute other security for that held by the defendant, guaranteeing to him that should he bo successful his legal remedies should not be impaired. So construed, a return was “adjudged” and a sum “recovered” within the intendment of the statute and the bond when a judgment to such effect was entered in the trial court that was enforceable against the plaintiff. And as above set forth the judgment being enforceable immediately upon its entry in the trial court it follows that an immediate liability on the bond accrued.

Our research has discovered but one decision wherein the matter has been considered. In Bierce v. Waterhouse, 219 U. S. 320 [55 L. Ed. 237, 31 Sup. Ct. Rep. 241], it is held that an action upon a redelivery bond in replevin is not premature where commenced pending appeal. It appeared there that one Bierce filed a replevin suit against one Hutchings in the Circuit Court of Hawaii. In order to retain possession of the property sought to be replevined, Hutchings executed a redelivery bond conditioned for a delivery of the property if delivery should be “adjudged” and payment of such sum as might be “recovered”.

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Bluebook (online)
12 P.2d 148, 124 Cal. App. 154, 1932 Cal. App. LEXIS 810, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferris-v-independence-indemnity-co-calctapp-1932.