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6 Abb. Pr. 211

Pudney v. Griffiths

New York Supreme Court

Decided April 15, 1858

New York Supreme Court · decided 1858-04-15

Motion to set aside order of supplementary proceedings for the 'examination of the defendant. The plaintiffs 'in this action having recovered judgment, issued execution against the property of the defendant. This being returned unsatisfied, they obtained an order for the examination of the defendant under section 292 of the Code. The affidavit and order were in the usual form.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently April 1937

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1858-04-15

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Clerke, J.

¶1It is asserted, and for the purpose of this motion admitted, that the plaintiffs directed the sheriff to return the execution, issued in this action, before the expiration of the sixty days, and before any effort was made to levy upon property subject to execution.

¶2How, supplementary proceedings under the. first part of sec*212tion 292 of the Code, were evidently designed as a remedy, not concurrent or simultaneous with an execution, hut, as the adjective designating these proceedings imports, to supply its place where it has failed to he effectual; and, in all cases, the execution must precede the resort to the supplementary remedy—it must he issued with a bona fide attempt to find and attach property, which it can reach. Otherwise, the intention of the law requiring the issuing of the execution, would be an idle ceremony ; and it would save much trouble,—it would in every respect be more convenient and proper, to allow the commencement of what we now call supplementary proceedings, immediately on the rendition of the judgment, and without the intervention of an execution. We all know that the creditor’s bill, for which these proceedings are a substitute to a certain extent, could not have been filed until what was called the legal remedy should be exhausted.

¶3There is nothing under the present system superseding this requirement. The remedy by execution must still be exhausted : it must be really exhausted—it must not be a sham attempt to do so; but the proper officer must be allowed to take the usual course to effectuate the object which the process was designed to serve.

¶4This, certainly, is not done when the plaintiffs in an action interpose and prevent the sheriff from even searching for property, by prematurely directing him to return the execution, for the express purpose of enabling them to commence these proceedings.

¶5The order must be set aside, with $.5 costs.

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