Tygart v. Domestic Elec. Co.

• Decision Date: 17 June 1921
• Docket Number: 2308.
• Citation: 107 S.E. 866,151 Ga. 624
• Parties: TYGART v. DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CO. DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CO. v. TYGART.
• Court: Georgia Supreme Court

107 S.E. 866

151 Ga. 624

TYGART v. DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CO.

DOMESTIC ELECTRIC CO. v. TYGART.

No. 2308.

Supreme Court of Georgia

June 17, 1921

Syllabus by the Court.

"Where a statutory motion to set aside a judgment of a court of record is presented to the trial judge, a rule nisi is issued by him and served upon the plaintiff, an answer to the rule is filed by the plaintiff, and upon the hearing of the motion the judgment is set aside," it is not necessary that the motion should affirmatively show upon its face that it was made during a term of court and within the statute of limitations. In such a case it will be presumed, in the absence of anything showing affirmatively to the contrary (the court having issued a rule nisi and upon the hearing set aside the judgment), that the motion was in fact made during term time, and that the court had before it all the facts necessary upon which to base a valid judgment.

"Where an attachment is issued against a defendant, a resident of this state, but not a resident of the county in which the attachment issued, and the defendant in attachment gives a replevy bond, does the giving of such bond convert the action from a suit in rem into an action in personam, so that, when the case is reached in its order, a declaration in attachment having been duly filed, but no defense made, the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict and judgment against the principal defendant and his surety on the replevy bond?" If the attachment was returnable to the county of the defendant's residence, as provided by Civil Code 1910, § 5063, then the replevy of the property by him would authorize a judgment in personam against him and his sureties on the replevy bond. If, however, the attachment was returnable to a county other than that of his residence, then, under the ruling in Treutlen v. Smith, 54 Ga. 575, a personal judgment could not be rendered against the defendant and his sureties, though he replevied the property. The decision in Treutlen v. Smith, supra, is still of force. Askew v Melvin, 144 Ga. 348, 87 S.E. 278.

Certified Questions from Court of Appeals.

Action between S. T. Tygart and the Domestic Electric Company. Judgment for the Electric Company, and both parties brought error to the Court of Appeals, which certified certain questions to the Supreme Court. Questions answered.

Story & Story, of Nashville, for plaintiff in error.

Etheridge Sams & Etheridge, of Atlanta,...