First Nat. Bank of Mobile v. Burch

188 So. 859, 237 Ala. 680, 1939 Ala. LEXIS 302
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedMay 11, 1939
Docket1 Div. 40.
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 188 So. 859 (First Nat. Bank of Mobile v. Burch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
First Nat. Bank of Mobile v. Burch, 188 So. 859, 237 Ala. 680, 1939 Ala. LEXIS 302 (Ala. 1939).

Opinion

*682 THOMAS, Justice.

The bill was for interpléader among rival claimants for moneys seized by the Chief of Police of Mobile under legal process.

It is alleged by complainant Burch that the appellants (the banks) as administrators of the .estate of Margaret Cox, deceased, and Clara Moskowitz, one of the respondents, claimed money that Clara Moskowitz alleged complainant took from her unlawfully, and that it “was not concealed except that it was put in a trunk in a closet at (her) home;” that of such sum, $4,458.77 was paid out by complainant on, the order of the Circuit Court' of Mobile, leaving a balance with complainant of $973.38, which was claimed by Mrs. Moskowitz as her own and the administrators of the Cox estate likewise claimed such amount.

It is averred by Mrs. Moskowitz that on the 23rd day of October, 1935, one Rosa Lartigue sued out a writ of garnishment on a judgment which she had recovered against the said Clara Moskowitz, and caused garnishment to issue thereon against the said Burch, who as garnishee filed his answer, admitting the possession of the sum of $5,040; that thereafter a claim was filed by the First National Bank of Mobile, and ’The Merchants National Bank of Mobile, as Administrators of the Estate of Margaret Cox, deceased, claiming the amount in his hands; that an issue was made up between “said claimants and Rosa Lartigue” as to whether said monies belonged to said Clara Moskowitz and subject to garnishment, or whether they belonged to said appellants as Administrators of the Estate of Margaret Cox; and that issue was decided in favor of Rosa Lartigue and on appeal to the Supreme Court, was reversed. First Nat. Bank v. Lartigue, 233 Ala. 670, 173 So. 21 ; that thereafter, on March 31, 1937, “without her knowledge or consent” an order was entered in said claim suit whereby the claimants (appellants) consented that plaintiff in the claim suit (Rosa Lartigue) “have judgment for $4,018.32 representing the principal and interest of plaintiff’s claim, and for the further sum of $440.45, representing the costs accrued in connection with this proceeding.” Petitioner Moskowitz further alleges that “she was not a party to said claim suit, and knew nothing about any hearing of this cause *683 at the time said order was entered; that the case was not set on the docket by the Clerk, and she was given no notice of any such hearing and did not participate in any manner therein, either in person or by attorney;” that the appellants having agreed to the entry of said judgment, and the court having acted upon said agreement, that appellants are now estopped from claiming the balance or remainder of said sum of $5,040 which has been paid into court, and which is the subject of this present controversy.

Copies of the answer of the garnishee and the judgment of the court therein are attached to the respondent Mrs. Clara Moskowitz’ answer as exhibits in aid of her pleading. Grimsley v. First Ave. Coal & Lumber Co., 217 Ala. 159, 115 So. 90.

The respondents (appellants) appeared and answered the bill of interpleader, admitting all material allegations thereof, setting up that the money was formerly in the hands of the complainant, and now in the registry of this court, amounting to $973.38, and claiming it as the property of the Estate of Margaret Cox, deceased; alleged that prior to the time said money was found in the home of the respondent Clara Moskowitz, she stated to the officers executing the search warrant that she had no money in the house, and that even after the money was found she stated that the money was sent her by a rich uncle residing in Texas, and that upon being asked if she knew the signature of said uncle, replied, “Yes.” and then stated, “No, he didn’t send it to me. That (it) is money I have been saving;” and further alleged that Clara Moskowitz was duly served with notice of the issuance of the garnishment to Burch, she failed to enter any appearance in the claim suit, did not interpose any claim to any part of said funds, and appellants (respondents) further allege “that there was no occasion to give to the said Clara Moskowitz any further notice or advice as to any further proceedings in said cause and that the said Clara Moskowitz, having had notice of the suing out of said garnishment, and having failed to enter any appearance therein or claim said funds, was herself solely responsible for her lack of knowledge of any subsequent action taken in said cause.” These respondents admit that said cause was settled according to the judgment referred to in the answer of the said Rosa Lartigue as said judgment was amended as alleged in said answer. These respondents admit that the said Rosa Lartigue did not consent to said judgment, and deny that she had any interest in said' money, and that her consent was required or necessary.

“ * * * Respondents further deny the right of the said Rosa Lartigue to question the aforesaid settlement, and respectfully allege that by failing to appear in said claim suit and propound her claim to the said $5,040.00, or any part thereof, she is now estopped to claim the same or any part thereof, and these Respondents deny that she, not being a party to said agreement, is now in position to allege or plead an estoppel on the part of these Respondents to claim the said funds in the hands of the Complainant in this cause. These Respondents further allege that in truth and in fact, no part of the said $5,040.00 was ever property of the said Mrs. Clara Moskowitz, the other Respondent, as evidenced by her failure to appear in said garnishment proceedings after due notice thereon and propound her claim, and that the claim now propounded is simulated and fraudulent.”

Such were the original pleadings. It may not have been necessary to state the effect of the original answer. However, when the respondent Clara Moskowitz demurred to the claim and answer of the respondents (appellants), demurrer being sustained, the appellants amended their claim by re-writing paragraph five thereof, as follows: “5. These respondents admit that the complainant in the bill of complaint as amended is disinterested in the controversy over the ownership of said money and that he claims no interest therein except that of a stake holder, and that he desires to so act in the premises that the money may be paid over to the true owner thereof and that he may be relieved of all liability in connection therewith. These respondents admit that the complainant can accomplish this purpose only by interpleading the rival claimants to said money; namely, these respondents and the said Clara Moskowitz, and by paying into the Registry of this Court said sum of $973.38, which payment these respondents are informed and believe, and on information and belief allege, has actually been made. These respondents therefore admit that the facts of this case present proper matter for a bill of inter-pleader. And further answering the bill of complaint and the claim of the other *684 respondent Clara Moskowitz, filed in this cause, these respondents say that it is true that Rosa Lartigue sued out a writ of garnishment on a judgment which she had recovered against the respondent, Clara Moskowitz, in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, and caused Warren F. Burch to be'summoned as garnisEee, and that thereafter the garnishee filed his answer in said cause, and that Exhibit ‘A’ attached to the answer of the respondent, Clara Moskowitz, is a true copy of the garnishee’s said answer.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
188 So. 859, 237 Ala. 680, 1939 Ala. LEXIS 302, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-nat-bank-of-mobile-v-burch-ala-1939.