Petri v. Sheriff of Washoe County, 6540
Decision Date | 30 November 1971 |
Docket Number | No. 6540,6540 |
Citation | 491 P.2d 43,87 Nev. 549 |
Parties | Carol Ann PETRI, Appellant, v. SHERIFF OF WASHOE COUNTY, Nevada; G. W. Belcher, Respondents. |
Court | Nevada Supreme Court |
One H. B. Jackson was sued by Frontier G. M. Diesel, Inc. While that action was pending the First National Bank of Nevada issued a time certificate of deposit payable to the Washoe County Clerk which was delivered to the clerk with instructions to hold the certificate in escrow pending the results of the lawsuit. The lawsuit in fact terminated on December 11, 1968 with a stipulation of dismissal.
Carol Ann Petri commenced an action against H. B. Jackson on October 11, 1968 with as writ of attachment of the same date. She obtained a judgment exceeding the amount of certificate of deposit on September 12, 1969. On December 11, 1968 G. W. Belcher commenced an action from which a writ of attachment issued on December 12, 1968, also against H. B. Jackson. Judgment in that case exceeding the amount of certificate of deposit was entered on June 17, 1969.
The question presented is the priority of the Petri and Belcher attachments. The trial court found that Belcher was entitled to the certificate of deposit on the ground that Jackson's interest in the certificate was only contingent until the Frontier suit was dismissed and that Belcher's writ was first in time after Jackson's rights became firm. On appeal respondent, despite a cautionary request from this court, failed to file briefs sufficiently responding to the issues raised by appellant. However, because the issues are important, this court will consider them on the basis of applicable law rather than set aside the trial court's judgment for respondent's failure to meet the problems with adequate points and authorities. . The right to oral argument was denied respondent here.
The appellant contends that the certificate of deposit while in the county clerk's possession was not in custodia legis and was therefore subject to attachment. She also asserts that Jackson's interest in the certificate of deposit was subject to attachment and that therefore her attachment being prior in time to Belcher's should be entitled to priority.
1. Ordinarily, absent statutory provision, Nevada having none, property in custodia legis is not subject to attachment without leave of court. In civil actions prosecuted within this state's jurisdiction the deposit of money in court must be made pursuant to NRCP 67(1). This rule is as follows:
Thus, in order to invoke the court's protective custody, leave must first be obtained. This was not done here. The certificate of deposit was not in custodia legis. This is the rule followed in California, Union Bank & Trust Co. of Los Angeles v. Los Angeles, 2 Cal.App.2d 600, 38 P.2d 442 (1935); Colver v. W. B. Scarborough Co., 73 Cal.App. 455, 238 P. 1110 (1925); Van Orden v. Golden West Credit and Adjustment Co., 122 Cal.App. 132, 9 P.2d 572 (1932), and by the majority of other jurisdictions (see, Annot., Funds Deposited in Court as Subject of Garnishment, 1 A.L.R.3rd 936, 946--47, § 7 (1965)).
Since the certificate of deposit was voluntarily deposited with the Washoe County Clerk pending the results of the Frontier lawsuit the certificate was never within the custody of the court with respect to that action. Therefore, it was not immune from attachment.
2. All of the parties admit that the certificate of deposit represented monies of H. B. Jackson. A certificate of deposit is in effect a promissory note and has the...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Jenson, In re
... ... attachment lien. See Petri v. Sheriff of Washoe County, 87 Nev. 549, 491 P.2d 43 ... ...
-
Williams v. State, 11223
... ... McDonald, Deputy Public Defender, Washoe County, Reno, for appellant ... Richard H ... See Petri" v. Sheriff, 87 Nev. 549, 491 P.2d 43 (1971) ... \xC2" ... ...
-
Johnson v. Johnson
... ... in an action pending in the Superior Court for Kent County, that is, C.A. No. 67-251, entitled Milton G. Johnson v ... The sheriff's returns stated that the service of the writs of ... though the amount due had not yet been determined.); Petri v. Sheriff, 87 Nev. 549, 491 P.2d 43 (1971) (A certificate ... ...
-
In re Hines
... ... money3 in court must be made pursuant to NRCP 67(1)." Petri v. Sheriff, 87 Nev. 549, 551, 491 P.2d 43, 44 (1971) ... ...