Giovanni v. First National Bank of Montgomery

55 Ala. 305

Opinion

BBICKELL, O. J. —

In Howard v. Jones & Starke, 50 Ala. 67, it was decided, that money or property, belonging to a partnership, may be claimed by the partners individually, as exempt from levy and sale under process against them. The case was an action against partners, for the recovery of a partnership debt, and a garnishment against one having in his custody partnership funds, exemption of which the partners claimed. This decision controlled that of Dunklin v. Kimball, Ib. 251, in which it was held, that two members of an insolvent partnership, having, without the.consent or acquiescence of a third, made an assignment of the partnership effects, for the payment of partnership debts, and the assignee having by sale converted the effects into money, the third partner could claim and recover from him one thousand dollars of the proceeds of sale, as exempt from liability for debts, or, if the proceeds of sale would not make a sum sufficient for a similar exemption to each of the partners, then one-third of such proceeds. The subsequent case of Giovanni et al. v. First National Bank, 51 Ala. 177, holds, that if partnership property is levied on, and each partner asserts a claim of exemption to his interest therein, their joint interest in the property claimed is thereby severed, and they can not maintain a joint action for its seizure and sale. The present appellant is one of the partners suing jointly in the latter case, and now suing alone, for the seizure and sale of the share of the partnership property claimed by him as exempt.

The appellant and one Guily were partners, equally interested in carrying on business as confectioners in the city of Montgomery. They became indebted to the appellee, for rent of a store-house in which the business was conducted; and while the partnership was continuing, without a severance of the interest of the partners in the partnership property, an attachment was issued for the recovery of the rent, and was levied on the stock in trade. After- the levy of the attachment, the appellant and his copartner jointly made affidavit, claiming that one-half of the stock in trade, being of less value than one thousand dollars, should be exempt to each of them. The affidavit was presented to the sheriff, and a release of the levy and restoration of the goods demanded. The sheriff, acting under the instructions of the appellee, refused, and made sale of the goods. This action is now brought to recover damages for the seizure and sale-of one-half of the goods, so claimed by the appellant. The court, in effect, charged the jury, that the appellant was not entitled to recover. We are thus met again by the precise question presented in Howard v. Jones &, Starke, supra, which, limiting it to the precise facts found in the record, may be thus stated: A partnership continuing, the property of the partnership not being divided, or the interests of the partners severed, can the partners claim a separate, individual exemption from the property, as against process for a partnership debt, which may be levied on it? My own opinion on the general question, whether partnership property is embraced within the statutory or constitutional exemption, was expressed in Dunklin v. Kimball, supra. Subsequent reflection and examination have strengthened and confirmed it.

The constitutional provision is, “ The personal property of any resident of this State, to the value of one thousand dollars, to be selected by such resident, shall be exempted from sale on execution, or other final process of any court, issued •for the collection of any debt contracted after the adoption, of this constitution.” The statute, though enlarging the exemption, by the enumeration of specific articles of personal property as exempt, in addition to the constitutional exemption, does not vary or change the nature of the ownership requisite to authorize the assertion of the right. Ownership is an indispensable element of the right to exemption. It is property which may be taken, and rightfully taken, under process against the resident debtor, which the constitution and the statute confer on him the unqualified privilege and right to select and retain. The purpose is, to confer on the resident debtor a substantial benefit, the enjoyment of which shall rest only in his volition, and of which he can not be deprived by another. The right is positive, unqualified, of equal dignity with other rights of property protected by the constitution from legislative or judicial invasion or diminu tion. Its exercise, or its waiver, or abandonment, tbe debtor alone, without intervention or interference from others, must determine. It is not a privilege which another, by his election or assent, may confer — it is a clear, absolute, legal, constitutional right. When the right is asserted, the ownership of the property claimed is not changed. It remains as it was at the time of its seizure under the process, simply protected from change by a sale under the process, and the owner protected from deprivation of title or possession.

The language of the constitution is not ambiguous — it is clear and unequivocal; and the statute observes it, with not the least change, which could indicate a change of intent on the part of the law-maker. The property exempt is the personal property of any resident of this State, to be selected by such resident, of the value of one thousand dollars. Conceding that the constitution and the statute are humane and beneficial in purpose, and in operation, and that a liberal construction must be adopted to further the purpose; yet, the construction must be consistent with a true and just interpretation of the terms employed. These are the best and highest expositors of the intention of the law-maker, which it is the object of all construction to ascertain. Can any just interpretation or construction of the language of the constitution, and of the statute, apply it to partnership property, seized under process against the partnership, for the payment of a partnership debt ? It can not be doubted, the right of exemption is limited to individual debtors; and in them is a positive, unqualified, individual right. A corporation, or any other artificial, legal being, having legal capacity to contract debts, is not clothed with the right. Whatever of property they may own, is still subject to the payment of the debts they may contract. A partnership is an association of two or more persons, uniting “their money, effects, labor, and skill, or some or all of them, in lawful commerce or business,” the profits to be divided, or the losses borne, in the proportions which may be agreed on by the partners. — 3 Kent, 19. Two leading principles govern the association — a common-interest in the partnership property, and a joint and several responsibility for all its engagements. The individual ownership of the money, or effects of any kind, which each partner may contribute to the association, whether the contribution is in the first instance, in the formation of the partnership, or subsequently in the course of its existence, is lost, and merged in the joint and common ownership of the partnership. Either partner may, in the course of the partnership, dispose of such property absolutely; and those acquiring title from him, can retain it against the partnership, or against tbe members originally owning it. No partner bas any exclusive right to any part of tbe partnership property. Tbe interest, and only individual interest of each partner, in tbe partnership property, is bis share in tbe surplus, after tbe partnership accounts are settled, and all just claims satisfied. — -3 Kent, 37. It is a familiar principle, that partnership property is primarily liable for the payment of partnership debts, to tbe exclusion of tbe separate debts of tbe individual partners. This liability is not a lien in favor of partnership creditors; but it is made available to tbe creditor, through tbe recognized right, at law and in equity, of tbe partners inter sese to have tbe partnership property appropriated first to tbe discharge of partnership debts, when tbe partnership property is drawn within tbe jurisdiction of a court of equity, that court regards it as a trust fund for tbe payment of partnership debts, and subrogates tbe partnership creditors to tbe rights of the partners inter sese. On this fund, tbe trust for the payment of partnership debts is primary and paramount. — 2 Story’s Equity, § 1253. On the death of a partner, tbe possession and title to tbe partnership property remains in tbe surviving members. It does not devolve on tbe personal representative of tbe deceased partner. Tbe survivors bold it, and are entitled to bold it, for tbe purpose of paying, the debts, and adjusting tbe accounts of the partnership. Such is tbe nature and character of partnership property, and tbe rights and interests of tbe partners. Of such property, it is legally impossible to base individual ownership. Suppose any part of such property is claimed by one member of tbe partnership ? Can such claim divest tbe title of tbe partnership ? Are tbe other partners deprived of all interest in it ? Or is it merely thereby protected from creditors, tbe title remaining in tbe partnership, subject to all tbe rights and equities of tbe other partners? How could tbe value of tbe property claimed be estimated? Is tbe actual value, tbe title not being disputed, but certain and fixed, to control ? Or must tbe value of tbe interest of tbe partner claiming be ascertained? That interest, not being capable of ascertainment, until tbe partnership debts are paid, bas no existence, as against process for a partnership debt. It is not seized under tbe process, which operates on tbe title of tbe partnership. Suppose tbe claim could be made by tbe partnership in its entirety; bow much would be exempt ? Only tbe amount prescribed by tbe constitution, or would that amount be allowed to each partner? Tbe latter would multiply tbe exemptions, while tbe constitution contemplates single exempt tions,

Without protracting the discussion further, which is exhausted in the decisions hereinafter referred to, we must say, that we can reach no other conclusion, than that the constitution and statute have no reference to partnership property, and are incapable of just application to it, when it is seized under process against the partnership, while the partnership is continuing, no severance or division of the property among the partners having been made. The claim of exemption which was interposed by the appellant and his partner, to a several exemption, may, as between them, have worked a severance of their joint interest in the property. Before the claim was interposed, the levy of the attachment had created a hen on the goods, which they could not destroy or impair by such severance. What would have been the effect of such severance, if it had occurred before the levy of the attachment, it is not material to inquire. The adjudications on the question we have considered are conflicting; but our conclusion is supported by a number of carefully considered decisions, which we feel bound to follow. — Pond v. Kimball, 101 Mass. 105; Guptil v. McFee, 9 Kansas, 30; Bonsall v. Comly, 44 Pa. 442; In re Handlin & Finney, 12 Bank. Reg. 49 (opinion of Judge Billon); Gaylord v. Imhoff, 26 Ohio, St. (reported in 3 Cent. Law Journal, No. 42).

We are compelled to overrule Howard v. Jones & Starke, 50 Ala. 47; Dunklin v. Kimball, Ib. 251, and Giovanni et al. v. First National Bank, 51 Ala. 177, so far as they assert that individual exemptions can be claimed from partnership property, when taken under process against the partnership, while the partnership continues.

The charge of the City Court, to which an exception was taken, was correct; and the judgment must be affirmed.

Stoke, J., not sitting, having been of counsel.