Saenger v. Proske

232 S.W.2d 106, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2276
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 28, 1950
Docket9898
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 232 S.W.2d 106 (Saenger v. Proske) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Saenger v. Proske, 232 S.W.2d 106, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2276 (Tex. Ct. App. 1950).

Opinion

HUGHES, Justice.

This is a garnishment suit, the background of which is found in our opinion in Albers v. Saenger, 222 S.W.2d 409, Writ Ref.N.R.E. In that case the trial court, on February 7, 1949, rendered a judgment in favor of Willie Saenger against E. G. Albers for $4,393.21, and for foreclosure of a vendor’s lien on certain land which secured the payment - of such sum. The foreclosure part of the judgment only was superseded. On appeal we affirmed the money judgment but denied foreclosure of the lien.

Saenger’s application for writ of error in the above-mentioned case was denied by the Supreme Court on October 5, 1949.

The three garnishments involved here were based upon the above money judgment and were sued out by appellant,. Saenger, in June and July, 1949.' The writ against garnishee 1VL F. Kieke was applied for on June 22, 1949, and was issued apd served on the same day. Kieke answered on July 16, 1949.

The writs against garnishees A. W. Sieg-mund and G. P. Proske were applied for on July 6, 1949, and were, issued and served on the same day. -Siegmund answered on July 15, 1949, and Proske answered on July 22, 1949.

E. G. Albers and C. C. Jopling 'have intervened. Albers’ defenses are the same as those of the garnishees and-will be later discussed. Mr. Jopling claims' an assignment of part of the funds held by garnishee Kieke.

All of the above matters were consolidated for trial. After a nonjury hearing the court concluded that:

“ * * * as a matter of law that on the dates of issuance of the writs of garnishment involved herein, on the dates of the answers of the respective garnishees, and on the dates said garnishees had been directed to answer, the garnishees were not then indebted to nor did they hold i'n their hands property then due and payable to the judgment debtor, and that -an uncertainty -existed as to whether said property would ever be due and payable said judgment debtor.
“The Court therefore concludes that the garnisher should take nothing by virtue of his writs of garnishment.”

Judgment was rendered accordingly; and in view of such judgment the intervention of Mr. Jopling was dismissed. '

The three garnishments involve somewhat different facts and will be treated separately.

Garnishee Proske.

" On October 28, 1948, appellee G. P. Proske purchased from E. G. Albers the lands -involved in the Saenger-Albers foreclosure suit, and as part of the consideration he executed and delivered to Albers a vendor’s lien note for $2,750.. This note recited that it was “subject .to the provisions of the agreement attached.” This agreement reads as follows:

“Whereas, E. G. Albers et ux. have 'this day sold to Gerhard P. Proske a certain farm, consisting of 168 acres out of the M. Sparks survey in Lee County, Texas; and
“Whereas, there is a suit pending in the District Court of Lee County, Texas, between E. G. Albers - et ux. and' Albert Saenger being Numbered #--, the *108 purposes of which suit is to remove a cloud of., title with reference to a note claimed to be owed by E. G. Albers et ux. to Saenger which note is purporRy secured by a vendor’s; liqn against the property aforesaid, and which note is barred by limitation and which property is the homestead of E. G.; Albers et ux. and was at the time the lien was attempted to be created ; now then

“As a part of the purchase price for the above described real estate, Gerhard P. Proske ha,s executed the attached note, and it is here now agreed as follows:

“1. Said note is written to become due on or before one year after date; however if said suit is not completely adjudicated when said note becomes due, it shall automatically be extended .to become due and payable 90, days after- said suit is finally adjudicated' including, all appeals, etc. .
“2: It is further -agreed that should E. G. Albers et ux. lose said suit and the defendant prevail either in whole or in part, then Gerhard P. Proske or order -or owner of said land, shall have the privilege of discharging said obligation to Saenger to the extent that he has a lien and take credit -on this note, to that extent, -and if that lien should be to secure an amount greater than the attached note, the— E. G. Albers agrees and obligates himself to make good such greater amount.
“3. It is further agree— that E. G. Al-bers et ux. will not compromise this suit without the written consent of Gerhard P. Proske, -and further that he will prosecute the same to final judgment and if he fails or refuses to do so, Gerhard P. Proske is hereby authorized 'and empowered to so prosecute the same -in the name of and for E. G. Albers and Emma Albers, and charge attorney’s fees and court costs, if any, against this nóte.
“4. This agreement is a part of the note t-6 which it is attached and said note is not to be transferred or assigned.
“Edwin' G. Albers
“Emma Albers.”

. This collateral agreement rendered the note nonnegotiable and it was, therefore, subject to garnishment. Neal v. Kurz, Tex.Civ.App., El Paso, 26 S.W.2d 478.

Appellee Proske relies upon the case of Alexander v. Berkman, Tex.Civ.App., Waco, 3 S.W.2d 864, 867, Writ Ref., where these rules were stated: “In order for -a fund or liability to be subject to garnishment, the amount thereof must be capable of ascertainment at least at the time of the filing of the garnishee’s answer. * * * There must be no condition precedent, no impediment of any sort between the garnishee’s liability and the defendant in garnishment’s right to be paid.”

Applying these rules Proske contends that it was uncertain if Proske would ever be required to pay any part of the note, or if so what part.

We are unable to' follow this reasoning. The amount of the note was definite and Proske’-s liability thereon was absolute. The only uncertainty which existed concerned the payee of the note. This was a matter which does not concern Mr. Proske so long as he is protected in the payment of his dpbt. He is fully protected because the only two persons who have any interest in the proceeds qf this note, Mr. Albers and Mr. Saenger, are before the court. We are also unable to discern any impediment between the liability of Mr. Proske on the note and the right of Mr. Albers to be paid the amount it represents. The note was to be paid directly to Mr. Albers or upon an obligation for which he might be liable. In either event the note was to be paid for the benefit of Mr. Albers -and this beneficial interest was unconditional.

Garnishee ■ Kielce.

The controversy here is over $1,643.21 in cash owned by Albers and placed with and held by the garnishee under the following circumstances and conditions:

The judgment in the Saenger-Al-bers foreclosure suit was for $4,393.21.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
232 S.W.2d 106, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 2276, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/saenger-v-proske-texapp-1950.