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83 Mass. 284

O'Grady v. Keyes

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Decided January 15, 1861

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · decided 1861-01-15

Tort for the default of a deputy sheriff. The following facts were agreed: The defendant was the sheriff of Middle-sex county, and in August 1855 John Costigan, having brought an action of replevin against the present plaintiff, delivered the writ to S. B. Page, a deputy of the defendant, by whom it was regularly served, with the exception that no penal sum was ever inserted in the replevin bond. The goods were appraised at $48.50, and this was their real value.

Decided 1861-01-15

Chapman, J.

¶1The plaintiff is entitled to recover for all the damage done to him by the defendant’s deputy. The damage consists of two items : (1.) Taking the plaintiff’s goods, to the value of $48.50, with interest from the time of taking. (2.) Compelling the plaintiff to attend court at the return term of the writ of replevin, to get the action dismissed because no valid bond had been taken. But the costs of the subsequent terms arose from his neglect to take advantage of the defect at the first term, and the defendant is not responsible for them.

¶2The defendant contends that the plaintiff waived the defect in respect to the bond by answering to the action. But a waiver of this character extends only to the right of the plaintiff to prosecute the action. It does not affect his claim against the officer for taking his goods without furnishing the security of a bond such as the statute requires.

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