Opinion
39119.
DECIDED DECEMBER 5, 1961.
Claim, etc. Fulton Civil Court. Before Judge Smith.
William B. Jones, for plaintiff in error.
Eugene S. Taylor, Curtis M. Cook, contra.
A summons of garnishment directed to Smith Hardware Co. and served on "Smith Hardware Co. by serving the same on Mr. Smith its agent" was prima facie a suit against a corporation. Where the entry on the judgment fi. fa. against the garnishee indicated that the property levied on was in the possession of one Frank Smith, who filed a claim, the burden rested on the plaintiff to show that the property belonged to defendant garnishee. This burden was not carried by proof that the claimant was personally handed the summons of garnishment; that he used "Smith Hardware," but not "Smith Hardware Co." as a trade name; and that he had no connection with a corporation known as Smith Hardware Co.
DECIDED DECEMBER 5, 1961.
The plaintiff (defendant in error) through his attorney made an affidavit and bond for garnishment on a judgment obtained against Walter M. Priest in the Civil Court of Fulton County. Summons of garnishment was issued against Smith Hardware Co. and was served on "Smith Hardware Co. by serving the same on Mr. Smith its agent and personally in charge of the office and place of business at the time of service of said garnishee in the City of Atlanta. . . ." The court entered judgment against "Smith Hardware Co., the garnishee," reciting that "the garnishee herein was duly served . . . and has failed to make answer as required by law. . ." Fi. fa. issued against the "goods and chattels, lands and tenements of Smith Hardware Co. (garnishee)" and was executed by levying on a safe and typewriter. Thereupon, Frank Smith (plaintiff in error) filed bond and claim affidavit stating that the property levied on under a fi. fa. "in favor of C. R. Hartrampf, transferee and against Smith Hardware Company . . . as the property of defendant named, is not the property of said defendant, but is the property of Frank Smith." At the hearing the plaintiff introduced in evidence the testimony of the claimant which showed that the claimant owned and operated hardware stores in Palmetto and Fairburn under the trade name "Smith Hardware"; that he had never used "Smith Hardware Company" as a trade name; that he was not a stockholder, officer, or employee of, nor in any way connected with, a corporation by the name of Smith Hardware Company; that the property levied on was located at his store and used by him in his business; that he owned said property and Smith Hardware Company had no interest therein; and that "the summons in garnishment was personally handed to" him. The claimant introduced in evidence the affidavit and bond for garnishment with the entry of service thereon. The court overruled and denied the claim. The claimant made a motion for new trial on the general grounds, which the court denied. The claimant assigns error on the denial of his motion for new trial.
Code § 39-904 provides: "Upon the trial of all claims . . . [to property levied on under an execution] the burden of proof shall lie upon the plaintiff in execution in all cases where the property levied on is, at the time of such levy, not in possession of the defendant in execution." The execution, with the entry of the levying officer reciting that he levied on the property in possession of the defendant in fi. fa., makes out a prima facie case in favor of the plaintiff in fi. fa. Evidence of such an entry or other proof that the property was levied on in the possession of the defendant, places the onus on the claimant to prove his claim. Nolley v. Elliott, 50 Ga. App. 382 ( 178 S.E. 309); Scruggs v. Blackshear Mfg. Co., 45 Ga. App. 855, 857 ( 166 S.E. 249); Sealy v. Beeland, 183 Ga. 709, 710 ( 189 S.E. 524). When the entry of the officer does not show who was in possession of the property levied on, the burden is on the plaintiff in fi. fa. Hicks v. Hicks, 193 Ga. 382 ( 18 S.E.2d 754); Whitlock v. Michael, 206 Ga. 749 ( 58 S.E.2d 833).
The entry of the deputy marshal on the fi. fa. in this case states: "Constructive levy. Mr. Frank Smith agrees to hold the above described property pending an order from the Civil Court of Fulton County. Frank Smith. Levied at Smith Hardware Co. Palmetto, Ga." This does not show that the property levied on was in possession of the defendant in fi. fa., Smith Hardware Co. It indicates that it was in the possession of an individual, Frank Smith. The plaintiff therefore did not make out a prima facie case and the burden remained on him to show that the property belonged to the defendant. The plaintiff's evidence did not sustain this burden. It showed, on the contrary, that the property belonged to Frank Smith; and that Frank Smith had no connection with Smith Hardware Co. and had never used "Smith Hardware Co." as a trade name.
"Smith Hardware Co." is presumed to be a corporation until the contrary is shown. Hunnicutt v. Reed, 149 Ga. 803 ( 102 S.E. 421). Plaintiff's garnishment against "Smith Hardware Co." was served on "Mr. Smith its agent." The suit on its face, naming a company as defendant and showing service on an agent rather than a principal shows that Frank Smith individually was not the defendant sued. Plaintiff's evidence did not rebut the presumption that the person it intended to sue was a corporation.
It is true that prior to judgment a suit misnaming the defendant can be amended to correct the misnomer. Code § 81-1206; Mortemoth Co. v. Southeastern Fur Co., 98 Ga. App. 637, 638 ( 106 S.E.2d 194). If Frank Smith was the intended garnishee in this case, the summons of garnishment could have been amended prior to judgment to designate the garnishee by his proper name. It is also true that "a judgment rendered against a person in his assumed or trade-name is not void." Eslinger v. Herndon, 158 Ga. 823 ( 124 S.E. 169, 900); Executive Committee of the Baptist Convention v. Smith, 44 Ga. App. 184 ( 161 S.E. 143); s.c. 175 Ga. 543 ( 165 S.E. 573); Becker v. Truitt, 39 Ga. App. 286 ( 146 S.E. 654); Becker v. Truitt, 170 Ga. 757 ( 154 S.E. 262). Had this garnishment and execution been against "Smith Hardware," and Frank Smith had been personally served, we are of the opinion that evidence that the claimant did business as "Smith Hardware" would have made out a prima facie case for the plaintiff; and in the absence of proof by the claimant that he was not the intended defendant the claim would have to fall. "Only a third person, not a party to the execution [may] . . . interpose a claim." Becker v. Truitt, 39 Ga. App. 286 (1), supra.
However, there was no amendment, the garnishment was not served on an individual, and the judgment and execution were not in the proven trade name of the claimant. The plaintiff failed to prove that the property levied on was owned by the defendant sued, and a judgment for the claimant was demanded. The trial court erred in overruling the claimant's motion for new trial.
Judgment reversed. Felton, C.J., and Bell, J., concur.