Opinion
April, 1913.
Miller, King, Lane Trafford (Perry D. Trafford and James F. Sandofur, of counsel), for third-person-appellant.
McLear McLear (Herbert G. McLear, of counsel), for plaintiff-respondent.
At the instigation of another judgment creditor, a receiver has been appointed for Jacob Cram, and it is claimed by the appellant that, first, the third party cannot be examined in this proceeding, because in another proceeding at the instigation of another judgment creditor a receiver has been appointed; and, second, that some years ago this same third party was examined at the instigation of the particular creditor in this proceeding at bar, and that, therefore, no second examination can be had.
It is not denied that the action in which the receiver has been appointed for the judgment debtor is an action brought against him by his cousin, Seward Webb, and that the receiver is one Scoble, a clerk in the office of Sidney Harris, attorney for Jacob Cram. The third party, Walker, who is sought to be examined in this proceeding, is the trustee and brother-in-law of Cram, the judgment debtor.
It is also alleged that the judgment debtor consented to the appointment of this receiver and has consented to the entry of orders of the Supreme Court directing the receiver to pay over funds to one Lockwood, to whom Seward Webb had assigned his judgment, said Lockwood being associated with Sidney Harris, the attorney for Cram, and that the said Harris or Lockwood have then paid the funds over to the said Cram.
The allegation of these facts would seem to indicate that the court below had not abused its discretion, if it had the power to order the examination of this third party, for otherwise a judgment debtor, by collusion with the plaintiff in one proceeding brought against him, could have a friendly receiver appointed and thereafter cut off any further inquiry by other creditors into the matter of his assets.
Appellant cites Matter of Steinmann v. Conlon, 150 A.D. 708, as conclusive and it would seem that this case following Sorrentino v. Langlois, 144 id. 271, holds that where a receiver has been appointed at the instance of one judgment creditor no examination of a third party can be had thereafter by any other creditor. We are, therefore, constrained to reverse the order appealed from.
Order reversed with ten dollars costs and disbursements and motion to vacate order for examination granted with ten dollars costs.
GUY and PAGE, JJ., concur.
Order reversed, and motion to vacate order for examination granted.