L. M. KENT
v.
POLK GROCERY COMPANY

Fla. | 1938-02-09
Ellis, C. J., and Terrell, J., concur., Wi-iitfield, íh J., and Brown, and Chapman, J. J., concur in the opinion and judgment.
131 Fla. 139 Florida Supreme Court (1938) Positive Treatment
Also reported at: 179 So. 136
Cited by 15 cases

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Synopsis

In this writ of error reviewing a judgment in an attachment claim proceeding, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that a claimant to property levied upon must prove title based on their own ownership interest and cannot attack the validity of the levy itself. The Court also held that a vendor's retention of title to goods sold and delivered for resale is fraudulent and void as to the vendee's creditors.


Holding

A claimant interposing a claim to property levied upon by attachment cannot prove the invalidity of the levy; rather, the claimant must recover upon the strength of their own title and right to possession. Additionally, an agreement by which a vendor of goods sold and delivered to a vendee for normal business disposal attempts to retain title is fraudulent and void as to creditors of the vendee.


Key Quotes

“One who interposes a claim under the statute to property levied upon by virtue of a writ of attachment cannot be permitted to prove at the trial of such claim that no valid levy of the attachment had been made.”

Establishes the core holding that claimants cannot attack the validity of the levy in claim proceedings.

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Facts & Procedural History

Property was levied upon under a writ of attachment. L. M. Kent, a third party, interposed a claim affidavit to the property, asserting his right to p…

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Opinion of the Court
Buford, J.

Buford, J.

Writ of error brings for review judgment in favor of the plaintiff in attachment in a suit on the claim affidavit of a third party.

Section 3430 R. G. S., 5283 C. G. L., provides: “If any attachment shall be levied upon property claimed by any person other than the defendant in attachment, such person may, at his option, replevy the same or interpose a claim in the manner provided in case of execution.”

Section 2830 R. G. S., 4517 C. G. L., provides the manner in which possession of property levied upon under execution may be obtained by a third person claiming title and right of possession thereto and Section 2832 R. G. S., 4519 C. G. L., provides for the trial of the rights of property under the claim affidavit.

When claim is interposed to property taken under execution or levy of attachment the rights of the claimant become the subject of the separate and independent suit.

*141All questions raised by plaintiff in error here have been settled adversely to his contention by former decisions of this Court. ;

In Claflin Co. v. Harrison, et al., 44 Fla. 218, 31 Sou. 818, it was held that, “One who interposes a claim under the statute to property levied upon by virtue of a writ of attachment cannot be permitted to prove at the trial of such claim that no valid levy of the attachment had been made.”

In Cohen, et al., v. Harris, et al., 61 Fla. 137, 54 Sou. 905, it was held: “In claim proceedings the claimant must recover upon the strength of his own title and right to possession of the property claimed.”

In the same case it was held: “In a claim proceeding under the statute, it is improper and erroneous to permit either the claimant or his attorney to testify as to consultations between them and conversations had, or advice given by the attorney to the claimant, at which the opposing party in interest was not present.”

In the case of First National Bank v. Wittich, 33 Fla. 631, 15 Sou. 552, it was held: “A mortgage covering a stock of merchandise under which the mortgagor is permitted, by agreement or understanding with the mortgagee, to retain possession and sell in the usual course of business the mortgaged goods is fraudulent and void as to creditors of the mortgagor.”

By analogy it must be held that an agreement by which the vendor of a stock of goods, wares and merchandise which is sold and delivered to a vendee to be disposed of in the usual course of trade attempts to retain title to such stock of goods, wares and merchandise is fraudulent and void as to creditors of the vendee. See Ackman v. Munnerlyn, 32 Fla. 367, 13 Sou. 922, and Wylly-Gabbett Co. *142v. Williams, 53 Fla. 872, 42 Sou. 910; Gilbert v. Peppers, 64 S. E. 361, 36 L. R. A. (New Series) 1181.

The fifth and sixth questions challenge the sufficiency of the verdict. The question of the sufficiency of the verdict is raised for the first time in this Court and, therefore, cannot be relied upon for reversal. We may say in passing, however, that the verdict was as follows:

“We, the jury, in the above entitled cause, find that the right of property is with the plaintiff in attachment against the claimant, L. M. Kent, and subject to the attachment issued in this cause as to the stock of goods, wares and merchandise levied upon: That in all other items included in the property levied upon the right of property is with the claimant, L. M. Kent: We¡ further find the value of the goods, wares and stock of merchandise levied upon is more than the sum of $500.00. So say we all, This November 10th, 1936.”

In General Motors Acceptance Corporation, et al., v. Judge of the Circuit Court, 102 Fla. 924, 136 Sou. 621, it was held: “Where the intent of the jury in rendering the verdict may fairly and with certainty be gleaned from the words used and no objection appears to have been made to the form of the verdict when the same was presented to the Court, the form thereof is waived.”

So we hold the verdict sufficient.

The judgment should be affirmed and it is so ordered.

Ellis, C. J., and Terrell, J., concur.

Wi-iitfield, íh J., and Brown, and Chapman, J. J., concur in the opinion and judgment.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • …0. I do not agree. The verdict should be liberally construed to carry out the jury’s intention. If the verdict adequately expresses the intention of the jury, mere inaccuracies of expression or form will not vitiate it. See Kent v. Polk Grocery Co., 131 Fla. 139, 179 So. 136 (1938). The award of $30,000 to Wharfside from Chanen was supportable by facts showing that Wharfside had to expend that amount on repairs to water pipes. It is self-evident that the jury (and judge) determined that Gay should recover $…
  • Whilden v. State, 301 So. 2d 35 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974)
    …. State, 88 Fla. 555, 102 So. 884 (1925); General Motors Acceptance Corp. et al. v. Judge of Circuit Court, 102 Fla. 924, 136 So. 621 (1931); Isenberg v. Ortona Park Recreational Center, Inc., 160 So. 2d 132 (Fla.App.1964); Kent v. Polk Grocery Co., 131 Fla. 139, 179 So. 136 (1938); Davis v. Ivey, 93 Fla. 387, 112 So. 264 (1927). In General Motors Acceptance Corp., supra, the court stated: “ . . . [where] the intent of the jury in rendering the verdict may fairly and with certainty be gleaned from the wor…
  • Ritter v. Miami Marine Agency, Inc., 133 So. 2d 107 (Fla. 3d DCA 1961)
    …ortunity to file formal pleadings and request a jury trial if desired. This position seems amply supported by the authorities. See: Norman Babel Mortgage Company v. Golden Heights Land Company, Fla.App.1960, 117 So. 2d 205; Kent v. Polk Grocery Co., 131 Fla. 139, 179 So. 136; State ex rel. Stevenson v. American Surety Co., Mo.App.1934, 74 S.W. 2d 1094. This fundamental defect should have been raised by pleadings in the trial court prior to judgment. However, where there is jurisdictional or other fundamenta…

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