{ "id": 8619678, "name": "MICA INDUSTRIES, INC. v. L. S. PENLAND and J. HARRY THOMAS, Sheriff of Macon County, N. C.", "name_abbreviation": "Mica Industries, Inc. v. Penland", "decision_date": "1959-02-25", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "602", "last_page": "606", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "249 N.C. 602" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "63 S.E. 2d 565", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "233 N.C. 240", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8602953 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/233/0240-01" ] }, { "cite": "105 S.E. 2d 282", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "249 N.C. 90", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8608424 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "93" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/249/0090-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 A.L.R. 922", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "90 N.C. 182", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8689289 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/90/0182-01" ] }, { "cite": "38 S.E. 902", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 N.C. 305", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660103 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/128/0305-01" ] }, { "cite": "20 S.E. 446", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "115 N.C. 385", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652048 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/115/0385-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 S.E. 1044", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "146 N.C. 385", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271453 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "392" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/146/0385-01" ] }, { "cite": "32 S.E. 735", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "124 N.C. 411", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659626 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/124/0411-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.C. 341", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682832 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/77/0341-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.C. 337", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8682824 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/77/0337-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 587, "char_count": 12374, "ocr_confidence": 0.44, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.2584386749684926e-07, "percentile": 0.8693732723413604 }, "sha256": "1bccc29dbd0626801ad953ec3e852cf50667c67108f5cac62fb97bfa3321b675", "simhash": "1:bf3d8a0d8245f473", "word_count": 2004 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:25:15.863799+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "MICA INDUSTRIES, INC. v. L. S. PENLAND and J. HARRY THOMAS, Sheriff of Macon County, N. C." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bobbitt, J. '\nThe -only question presented is whether -the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to amended complaint. (The judgment did not dissolve the restraining order, nor did it dismiss -the action.)\nPlaintiff does not attack the judgment or the execution. But the judgment is against Minerals Processing Company, not against plaintiff; and the execution authorizes the sheriff to levy on and to sell property of Mineral\u00a9 Processing Company, -not property of plaintiff.\nOnly property of the judgment debtor may be levied on and sold under execution. G.S. 1-315. A levy made on property of a person other than the judgment debtor constitutes a trespass. 33 C.J.S., Executions \u00a7 453; 21 Am. Jur., Executions \u00a7 138.\nIf, as alleged, -the sheriff wrongfully levied -on, took possession of and refused to surrender property owned solely by plaintiff, what legal remedies were available to plaintiff?\n1. Plaintiff was entitled to recover its property from the person or persons in wrongful possession thereof; and, in -an action therefor, the ancillary remedy of claim and delivery, G.S. 1-472 et seq., was available. Jones v. Ward, 77 N.C. 337; Churchill v. Lee, 77 N.C. 341; Mitchell v. Sims, 124 N.C. 411, 32 S.E. 735; Bowen v. King, 146 N.C. 385, 392, 59 S.E. 1044.\nIn Jones v. Ward, supra, the basis of decision is well stated in the headnote as follows: \u201cAn action for claim and delivery of personal property can be maintained by the owner 'against an officer taking the same under an execution against a third person.\u201d\nWhile it >did not seek immediate possession under claim and delivery proceedings, it is noted that plaintiff alleged that the property had not been seized under an execution or attachment \u201cagainst the property of the plaintiff.\u201d G.S. 1-473 (4).\n2. Plaintiff was entitled to recover damages, if 'any, sustained by plaintiff on account of the wrongful seizure and detention of its property. Leavering v. Smith, 115 N.C. 385, 20 S.E. 446; Martin v. Buffaloe, 128 N.C. 305, 38 S.E. 902; Bowen v. King, supra; 80 C.J.S., Sheriffs and Constables \u00a7\u00a7 146, 147; 47 Am. Jur., Sheriffs, Police and Constables \u00a7\u00a7 44, 48.\nMoreover, plaintiff was entitled, in a single action, to recover both possession and damages. G.S. 1-230; Bowen v. King, supra.\nWhether plaintiff, a 'Stranger to Penland\u2019s action against Minerals Processing Company, could have intervened therein, is not before us. In this connection, see 33 C.J.S., Executions \u00a7 165.\nThe fact that Penland was the judgment creditor, standing alone, would not impose liability on account of the sheriff\u2019s wrongful seizure 'and detention of plaintiff\u2019s property. Draper v. Buxton, 90 N.C. 182. However, as stated in 33 C.J.S., Executions \u00a7 456: \u201cAll persons who have anything to do with the wrongful issuance or levy of \u00e1n execution, including persons who procure, direct, or assist in the commission of the wrongful act by the officer, are liable to the person injured thereby. Even a stranger or person not a party to the suit who officiously directs an officer in making -a wrongful levy, or who accompanies an officer and assists him in the commission of the wrongful act, is equally liable with the officer for the injury sustained.\u201d If, as alleged, Penland induced the sheriff to commit the alleged wrongful acts, he is equally liable with the sheriff for damages sustained by plaintiff on account thereof. 21 Am. Jur., Executions \u00a7 641; Annotation: 91 A.L.R. 922 et seq., and supplemental decisions.\nUpon these legal principles, the amended complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.\nDefendants\u2019 contention that the amended complaint is demurrable because it introduced \u201ca new, separate and distinct cause of action,\u201d is without merit.\nWhether, strictly speaking, plaintiff, by alleging that it had been damaged by defendants\u2019 .alleged wrongful acts, thereby introduced a new cause of action, need not be discussed; for, .absent the bar of an 'applicable statute of limitations, it was permissible under G.S. 1-163 to allow plaintiff ,to introduce a new cause of action, by way of amendment if the facts constituting the new cause of action arise out of or are connected with the transactions upon which the original complaint is based. Stamey v. Membership Corp., 249 N.C. 90, 93, 105 S.E. 2d 282; Perkins v. Langdon, 233 N.C. 240, 63 S.E. 2d 565. Here, plaintiff\u2019s so-called new cause of action is based primarily on the identical facts originally alleged.\nFinally, we consider defendants\u2019 contention that it appears on the face of the complaint that plaintiff did not on March 15, 1958, have the legal capacity to sue. This contention is directed to the allegations of paragraph 1 of the original complaint, viz.:\n\u201c1. That the plaintiff is a corporation duly chartered, organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, and that while its authority to carry on its regular 'business as contemplated by its charter was suspended temporarily on the 10th day of December, 1957, this action is instituted in the name of said corporation within two years from the date of its suspension by authority duly given by its directors for the purpose of preserving the assets of said corporation.\u201d\nWhile the quoted allegations do not so state, we accept, for present purposes, defendants\u2019 contention that it appears therefrom that plaintiff\u2019s charter was temporarily suspended by the Secretary of State under G.S. 105-230. Whether plaintiff\u2019s charter has been restored as provided in G.S. 105-232 does not appear. We are concerned only with plaintiff\u2019s status when this action was -commenced.\nUpon the present record, we -are not disposed to undertake to define precisely the legal effect of a temporary suspension of charter under G.S. 105-230. Suffice to say, we are of the opinion and hold that -the facts alleged, considered in the light most favorable to plaintiff, do not disclose that plaintiff did not have the legal capacity on March 15, 1958, to institute and prosecute -this action. G.S. 55-114(4), enacted -by Oh. 1371, Session Laws of 1955, effective July 1, 1957.\nWe >are not .presently concerned with whether plaintiff can establish the facts alleged. For the purpose -of testing the sufficiency of .the amended complaint, the facts -alleged are deemed admitted by the demurrer.\nF-or the reasons stated the judgment sustaining demurrer to amended complaint is reversed.\nReversed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Bobbitt, J. '" } ], "attorneys": [ "Jones & Jones and Ward & Bennett for plaintiff, appellant.", "Marcellus Buchanan and J. H. Stockton for defendants, appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "MICA INDUSTRIES, INC. v. L. S. PENLAND and J. HARRY THOMAS, Sheriff of Macon County, N. C.\n(Filed 25 February, 1959.)\n1. Execution. \u00a7 1\u2014\nOnly the property of tbe judgment debtor may be levied on and sold under execution, and a levy on property of a person other than the judgment debtor constitutes a trespass. G.S. 1-315.\n2. Execution \u00a7 7\u2014\nThe owner of property seized by an officer under execution against another may maintain an action against the officer seizing the property to recover possession, and may recover in such action damages, if any, sustained on account of the wrongful seizure and detention of its property.\nS.Trover and Conversion \u00a7 1\u2014\nThe owner of personalty may maintain an action to recover its possession against a person wrongfully seizing it, and may also, even by \u00a1amendment, assert a cause of .action to recover damages sustained on account of the wrongful seizure and detention of the property. G:S. 1-230.\n4. Execution \u00a7 7\u2014\nThe judgment creditor, nothing else appearing, is not liable on account of -the sheriff\u2019s wrongful seizure and detention of property not belonging to the judgment debtor, but if he induces the sheriff to wrongfully seize rhe property of a stranger, he is equally liable with the sheriff for damages sustained by the owner of the property on account thereof.\n5. Pleadings \u00a7 22\u2014\nWhere no statute of limitations is involved, it is permissible to allow a plaintiff to introduce a new cause of action by way of amendment if the facts constituting the new cause of action arise out of or are connected with the transactions upon which the original complaint is based. G.S. 1-163.\n6. Corporations \u00a7 25\u2014\nAllegations in the complaint to the effect that plaintiff corporation's charter was temporarily suspended less than a year prior to the institution of the action, do not disclose that the corporation did not have legal capacity to institute the action. G.S. 105-230, G.\u2019S. 55-114(4).\n7. Pleadings \u00a7 15\u2014\nA demurrer admits the facts properly pleaded solely for the purpose \u2022of 'passing on the demurrer.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Sink, Emergency J., August Special Term, 1958, of MacoN.\nCivil action instituted March 15, 1958, to recover (1) described articles of personal property, and (2) damages on account of alleged wrongful seizure and detention thereof, heard below on demurrer to amended complaint.\nPlaintiff, in its original complaint, alleged, inter alia, these facts:\nPlaintiff has been (since its purchase thereof in 1954) and is now the owner of said personalty and entitled to the immediate possession thereof. Purporting to act under an execution issued to satisfy a judgment rendered in an action entitled \u201cLawrence S. Penland, Employee, Plaintiff, v. Minerals Processing Company, Employer, Defendant,\u201d defendant sheriff wrongfully (1) levied on and took possession of said personalty, (2) refused to surrender possession thereof to plaintiff upon its demand therefor, and (3) advertised an execution sale thereof. Defendant Penland wrongfully informed defendant sheriff that said personalty belonged to Minerals Processing Company, the judgment debtor, and directed defendant sheriff to levy thereon. Minerals Processing Company does not and never did own said personalty.\nPlaintiff then prayed that defendants be restrained from selling said personalty, that defendant sheriff be required to hold \u00a9aid personalty \u201cuntil the further orders of the Court,\u201d and \u201cfor such other and further relief as the Court may deem just \u00a1and proper.\u201d\nA temporary restraining order issued March 15, 1958, was, by consent order \u00a1of April 21, 1958, continued in full force and effect until the final hearing.\nDefendants demurred in writing to \u00a9aid original complaint on the ground that plaintiff\u2019s remedy, if any, was by \u201cintervention\u201d in the cause in which the judgment was rendered and not by independent action.\nOn June 9, 1958, Judge Campbell \u00a1overruled defendants\u2019 said written demurrer. Whereupon, defendants demurred ore tenus \u201con the ground that the Complaint does not \u00a1state a cause of action.\u201d Judge Campbell sustained the demurrer ore tenus \u00a1and granted leave to plaintiff to amend its complaint.\nIn its amendment to complaint, plaintiff, \u00a1after adopting without modification all \u00a1of its -original \u00a1allegation's, alleged (1) that it was and had been the sole owner of said personalty, (2) that said personalty had deteriorated and depreciated in value while in the wrongful possession of defendants, \u00a1and (3) that it would suffer irreparable damages if \u00a1the sale were not restrained. Except as indicated, the \u00a1amendment reiterates and amplifies allegations of the \u00a1original complaint.\nPlaintiff then prayed, inter alia, that it be adjudged the owner and entitled to the \u00a1immediate possession of \u00a1said personalty, \u00a1and that it recover $500.00 damages on account of the deterioration thereof while in the wrongful possession of defendants.\nDefendants demurred to the amended complaint, specifying as grounds of objection the following:\n\u201c (1) That it .appears from the face of the complaint that Mica Industries, Inc., the plaintiff herein, did not at the time this action was instituted on the 15th day of March, 1958, and does not now have the legal capacity to sue; that it wias not at said time, and is not now, a valid and legally existing corporation.\n\u201c(2) That it appears from the amendment to the complaint as filed on the 25th day of June, 1958, that a new, separate and distinct cause of action has been attempted to be set up -against the defendants, which attempted new cau-se of action substantially changes the plaintiff\u2019s alleged claim.\n\u201c(3) That the complaint as amended does not state a cause of action.\u201d\nJudge Sink\u2019s judgment, after recitals, provides: \u201cAfter reading the pleadings, it is ordered by the Court that the demurrer be sustained.\u201d\nPlaintiff excepted and appealed.\nJones & Jones and Ward & Bennett for plaintiff, appellant.\nMarcellus Buchanan and J. H. Stockton for defendants, appellees." }, "file_name": "0602-01", "first_page_order": 644, "last_page_order": 648 }