Motions Against Officers

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  2. Tennessee Code
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  4. Courts of General Sessions
  5. Miscellaneous Provisions
  6. Motions Against Officers

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  1. Sheriffs, coroners, constables, and their sureties are liable to judgment by motion for the amount to which the plaintiff is entitled, with interest, and damages at the rate of twelve and one half percent (12.5%) in the following cases:
    1. In the general sessions court of the county where such officer, by virtue of the officer's position, collects or receives money upon any debt or demand, under a magistrate's jurisdiction, put into the officer's hands for collection, and fails to pay it over to the person entitled, whether the officer collected or received the money before or after the issuance of a warrant, or before or after the rendition of judgment;
    2. In the general sessions court having legal custody of the papers, where an execution from a general sessions court having come to the officer's hands, the officer fails to return it within thirty (30) days after its issuance, or where, having collected money on execution issued by a general sessions court, the officer fails or refuses to pay it; and
    3. In the general sessions court of the county on motion by any general sessions judge or witness, for failing to pay over costs on execution, collected and due the officer, or failing to return execution issued for the cost; and any number of cases in favor of one (1) general sessions judge or witness may be joined in one (1) motion.
  2. The inability of the officer to make due return of an execution under subsection (a) on account of sickness, high water or engagement in executing any precept on behalf of the state shall be sufficient excuse to discharge the officer from the penalties prescribed.
  3. The officer, if to be found in the county, shall have five (5) days' notice, in writing, of the time and place of motion.
  4. Before the plaintiff is entitled to judgment against the sureties, the plaintiff shall produce to the court a certified copy of the official bond of the officer.

Code 1858, §§ 4167-4170 (deriv. Acts 1835-1836, ch. 17, §§ 4, 5; Acts 1835-1836, ch. 19, § 6; Acts 1841-1842, ch. 37); Shan., §§ 5979-5982; Code 1932, §§ 10180-10183; modified; impl. am. Acts 1979, ch. 68, §§ 2, 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 19-501 — 19-504; Acts 1993, ch. 241, § 51; T.C.A., §19-2-101.

Cross-References. Concurrent jurisdiction of circuit court, §25-3-141.

Defense of mailing to another county, §25-3-109.

Excuse of inability to return, §25-3-110.

Textbooks. Tennessee Jurisprudence, 2 Tenn. Juris., Appeal and Error, § 246; 3 Tenn. Juris., Attachment and Garnishment, § 39; 17 Tenn. Juris., Justices of Peace and General Sessions Courts, § 26; 19  Tenn. Juris., Motions and Summary Proceedings, §§ 3-7; 22 Tenn. Juris., Sheriffs, § 24.

Law Reviews.

Judicial Reform at the Lowest Level: A Model Statute for Small Claims Courts, Part II, 28 Vand. L. Rev. 730.


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