HomeMy WebLinkAbout0329 _ . . _ . ;~s:=>. _ _ _ .
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pas~es on the constitutiot~al validity of Florida's.prejudqment
garnishment statutes.l Since the order of the Circuit Court
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77.031 Garnishment before judgme.ntf procurement.--
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~ (1) Before judgment has been obtained by plain- E
tiff against defendant, no writ of garnishment shall
issue until plaintiff, his aqent or attorney, files -
in the court where the action is pending, a motion
(which shall not be verif3ed or negat~ive defendant's
exemptions) statinq that the debt for which plain-
tiff sues is just, due.and unpaid, that the qarnish-
ment is not sued out to injure either defendant
or qarnishee,and that movant does not believe that
defendant-will have in his possession after execu-
~ ti~on is issued, visible property in this ~state
~and in the county in which th~ action is pending
on which a levy can be made sufficient to satisfy
plaintiff • s clai.m.
(2) Except when plaintiff has had an attach-
ment, no.writ of garnishment before judgment shall
issue until the person applying for it, nis agent
or attorney, gives a bond with surety to be approved
by the clerk payable to de~endant in at least
- double the debt demanded conditioned to pay all
costs and da~mages which defendant sustains in
consequence of plaintiff's improperly suing out _
the writ of gar~.ishment.
(3) Any bond in qarnishment is not void as
against the obligors, nor shall they be discharged
therefrom on account of any informality in it, ~
although the garnishment is dissolved because of
the informality.
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~ 77.04 Writ; fona.--The writ shall require
~ the garnishee to serve an answer to it on plain-
' tiff within 20 days after service stating whether i_
~ he is indebted to defendant at the time of the
answer, or was indebted at the time of service of
the writ, or at any time between such times; and
in what sum and what tangible or intanqible personal ~
property of defendant he has in his possession or ~
control at the time of his answer, or had at the
time of the service of the writ, or at any time -
between such ti.unes; and whether he knows of any
other person indebted to defendant, or who may have
any of the property of defendant in his possession
or control. The writ shall state the amount named
in plaintiff's motion. "
~ 77.06 Writ; effect.--
(1) Service of the writ shall make garnishee
liable for all debts due by him to defendant and
for any tangible or intangible personal property
of de~endant in his possession or control at the
time of the service-of the writ or at any time
between the service and the time of his answer. `
(2) A bank or other financial institution
authorized to accept deposits, upon beinq served
(continued)
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