Chapter 811

811.11 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.11; 1993 a. 301.

811.12 811.12 What may be attached; how attached. All the property of the defendant, not exempt from execution, may be attached. Personal property shall be attached as upon an execution and the provisions respecting the levy of an execution thereon shall be applicable to an attachment.

811.12 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.12.

811.13 811.13 Indemnity to sheriff. If there is reasonable doubt as to the ownership of the property or as to its liability to be attached the sheriff may require sufficient security to indemnify the sheriff for attaching such property.

811.13 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.13; 1993 a. 486.

811.14 811.14 Sale of perishable property attached or garnisheed. When any property taken on a writ of attachment or received by the officer from any garnishee including actions appealed to the court, shall be likely to depreciate in value before the end of the action or the keeping thereof shall be attended with much loss or expense the court or a judge may order it sold in such manner as the best interests of the parties demand, and the money realized shall be held by the officer in lieu of the property sold.

811.14 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.14; 1993 a. 213.

811.15 811.15 Care of property; collection of debts. The officer shall keep the property seized by the officer and the proceeds of such property as shall have been sold to answer any judgment which may be recovered in such action; and shall, subject to the direction of the court or judge, collect and receive into the officer’s possession all the debts, credits and effects of the defendant. The officer may also take such legal proceedings, either in the officer’s own name or in the name of such defendant, as may be necessary for that purpose and discontinue the same at such times and on such terms as the court or judge may direct.

811.15 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.15; 1993 a. 486.

811.16 811.16 Bond for release of property; estoppel. The defendant may, at any time before judgment, deliver to the officer who attached the defendant’s property a bond executed by 2 sureties, to the effect that they will, on demand, pay to the plaintiff the amount of the judgment, with all costs, that may be recovered against the defendant in the action, not exceeding the sum specified in the bond with interest. The bond shall be at least the amount claimed in the plaintiff’s affidavit or, at the defendant’s option, the value of the property attached, according to the appraisement; or, if real estate, in a sum fixed by the court or a judge, on notice. The sureties shall justify as provided in s. 811.06, and may be accepted if they are jointly responsible for the required sum.

811.16 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975), 778; Stats. 1975 s. 811.16; 1977 c. 412; 1987 a. 256.

811.17 811.17 Exception to defendant’s sureties; release of property; costs. The officer shall give to the plaintiff a copy of the bond with notice of the time when the bond was delivered to him or her; and the plaintiff shall, within 3 days thereafter, give notice to the officer that he or she excepts to the sureties or waives all objections to them. When plaintiff excepts, the sureties shall justify as provided in s. 810.08. The officer shall be responsible for the sufficiency of such sureties and may retain possession of the attached property until they shall so justify or objection be so waived. Thereafter the officer shall deliver the property attached to such defendant; if real estate is attached, the sheriff shall record a certificate of the discharge thereof in the office of the register of deeds. If the plaintiff recover, all his or her costs and disbursements on the attachment shall be included in his or her judgment.

811.17 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758, 778 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.17; 1993 a. 301.

811.18 811.18 Vacation or modification of writ. The court or the presiding judge thereof may, at any time vacate or modify the writ of attachment upon motion of the defendant for any sufficient cause. A motion to vacate or modify may be combined with a motion to increase the plaintiff’s security under s. 811.07.

811.18 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975), 778; Stats. 1975 s. 811.18; 1977 c. 412.

811.19 811.19 Hearing on motion to vacate or modify. A motion to vacate or modify shall be heard forthwith by the court. On the motion, the burden of proof shall be upon the plaintiff. If the defendant has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, the assignees of the defendant may move to vacate or modify the writ of attachment in the same manner as is provided for the defendant.

811.19 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.19; 1977 c. 412.

811.21 811.21 Damages, defendant when to recover. If the defendant prevails in the action or if the action be discontinued the damages sustained by the defendant by reason of the taking and detention or sale of any property attached by reason of any injury thereto shall be assessed and the defendant shall have judgment therefor.

811.21 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.21; 1993 a. 486.

811.22 811.22 Return of property; damages on dismissal; entry in register’s office. When the defendant recovers judgment all the money or property held by any writ of attachment shall be delivered to him or her, subject to the plaintiff’s rights on appeal, and he or she may maintain an action on the plaintiff’s bond for the assessed damages sustained by reason of the writ of attachment. Upon the entry of final judgment in favor of the defendant or on satisfaction of a plaintiff’s judgment, the clerk of court shall, if real estate was attached, certify the fact of the judgment or satisfaction, and on recording the certificate with the register of deeds in any county in which attached lands are situated the register shall enter the certificate upon the records of his or her office in discharge of the attachments.

811.22 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); 1993 a. 301.

811.23 811.23 Judgment for plaintiff, how satisfied. When the plaintiff shall have recovered judgment in the action the sheriff or officer shall satisfy the same out of the property attached or received from any garnishee or otherwise, if sufficient therefor:

811.23(1) (1) By paying over to such plaintiff all money attached or received upon sales of property, or from any garnishee, or upon any debts or credits, or so much thereof as shall be necessary.

811.23(2) (2) By selling, under such execution as may be issued on such judgment, so much of the attached property, real or personal, as shall be necessary to satisfy the balance unpaid, according to the provisions regulating sales upon execution; except as provided in sub. (4).

811.23(3) (3) If any of the attached property belonging to the defendant shall have passed out of the hands of the sheriff without having been sold or converted into money, the sheriff shall repossess the attached property, and for that purpose shall have all the authority which the sheriff had to seize the property under the writ of attachment; and any person who shall willfully conceal or withhold the attached property from the sheriff shall be liable to double damages at the suit of the party injured.

811.23(4) (4) Until the judgment against the defendant shall be paid the sheriff may proceed to collect the evidences of debt that may have been seized or attached by virtue of the writ of attachment or that may have been delivered up by any person summoned as garnishee, and to prosecute any bond the sheriff may have taken in the course of the proceedings, and apply the proceeds thereof to the payment of the judgment and costs. When the judgment and all costs of the proceedings shall have been paid, the sheriff, upon reasonable demand, shall deliver over to the defendant the residue of the property attached or that may have been received from any garnishee, or the proceeds thereof.

811.23 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.23; 1993 a. 486.

811.24 811.24 Action by sheriff, who to prosecute. The actions herein authorized to be brought by the sheriff or officer may be prosecuted by the plaintiff or under the plaintiff’s direction, upon the delivery by the plaintiff to the sheriff or officer of an undertaking, with 2 sufficient sureties, to the effect that the plaintiff will indemnify the sheriff or officer for all damages, costs and expenses thereon not exceeding $250 in any one action; such sureties shall, when required by the sheriff or officer, justify by making an affidavit that each is a householder and worth double the amount of the penalty named in the undertaking over and above all debts and exemptions.

811.24 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.24; 1993 a. 486.

811.25 811.25 Execution after defendant’s death. If any defendant whose property is attached shall die and the judgment is in favor of the plaintiff, the property attached shall be applied to the payment of the judgment and execution may be issued on such judgment and satisfied out of the property so attached in the same manner as if such defendant were living.

811.25 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.25.

811.26 811.26 Stranger may intervene. Any person not a party to the action, whose property is attached, may, at any time, either before or after judgment, be made a party upon the person’s application for the purpose of removing or discharging the attachment. The court may grant such summary relief as shall be just, and may in proper cases award an issue for trial by jury.

811.26 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 811.26; 1993 a. 486.