45-604. PREFERENCE OF WAGES ON EXECUTION AND ATTACHMENT. In cases of executions, attachments and writs of similar nature, issued against any person or his property, except for claims for labor done, any employee who has claims against the defendant for labor done upon the property levied on, may give notice of their claim and the amount thereof, sworn to by the person making the claim, to the creditor or the creditor’s agent or attorney and to the officer executing any of such writs, at any time before the actual sale of the property levied upon; and, unless such claim is disputed by the debtor or creditor, such officer must pay to such person out of the proceeds of the sale of any property on which such person has bestowed labor, the amount such person is entitled to receive for his services rendered within the sixty (60) days preceding the levy of the writ. If any or all other claims so presented and claiming preference under this section are disputed by either the debtor or a creditor, the person presenting the same must commence an action within ten (10) days for the recovery thereof, and must prosecute the action with due diligence or be forever barred from any claim of priority of payment thereof, and the officer shall retain possession of so much of the proceeds of the sale as may be necessary to satisfy such claim until the determination of such action, and in case judgment be had for the claim or any part thereof, carrying costs, the costs taxable therein shall likewise be a preferred claim with the same rank as the original claim.
History:
[(45-604) 1893, p. 49, ch. 4, sec. 3; reen. 1899, p. 147, ch. 4, sec. 3; reen. R.C. & C.L., sec. 5147; C.S., sec. 7378; I.C.A., sec. 44-603; redesignated 45-604, 1989, ch. 280, sec. 4, p. 678; am. 1999, ch. 51, sec. 5, p. 117.]