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2018 Georgia Code 44-12-20 | Car Wreck Lawyer

TITLE 44 PROPERTY

Section 12. Rights in Personalty, 44-12-1 through 44-12-322.

ARTICLE 2 CHOSES IN ACTION

44-12-20. "Chose in action" defined.

A chose in action is personalty to which the owner has a right of possession in the future or a right of immediate possession which is being wrongfully withheld.

(Orig. Code 1863, § 2219; Code 1868, § 2213; Code 1873, § 2239; Code 1882, § 2239; Civil Code 1895, § 3072; Civil Code 1910, § 3648; Code 1933, § 85-1801.)

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

"Personalty" includes rent. Few v. Pou, 32 Ga. App. 620, 124 S.E. 372 (1924); Padgett v. Butler, 84 Ga. App. 297, 66 S.E.2d 194 (1951).

Stocks are personalty. Clark v. Baker, 186 Ga. 65, 196 S.E. 750 (1938).

Where "chose in action" exists.

- The right to maintain an action against carrier for failure to deliver all or any of the goods specified in a bill of lading is a chose in action under O.C.G.A. § 44-12-20. Askew & Co. v. Southern Ry., 1 Ga. App. 79, 58 S.E. 242 (1907).

Judgment creditor's claim against proceeds of a sale of a bankruptcy debtor's interest in a marital residence awarded in divorce proceedings was wholly unsecured since the debtor's interest was a chose in action to which the creditor's judgment lien did not automatically attach and the creditor did not initiate a collateral proceeding to attach the lien to the chose in action. Souther v. First Bank (In re Sapp), Bankr. (Bankr. S.D. Ga. Apr. 2, 2015).

An unpaid subscription to the capital stock of a corporation, after a call has been made, is a chose in action under O.C.G.A. § 44-12-20. Lynah v. Citizens & S. Bank, 136 Ga. 344, 71 S.E. 469 (1911).

The right to maintain an action for any damage done to property assigned while the property is still in the transferee's possession is a chose in action under O.C.G.A. § 44-12-20. Benjamin-Ozburn Co. v. Morrow Transf. & Storage Co., 13 Ga. App. 636, 79 S.E. 753 (1913).

Although a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding has no vested title or interest in an exemption at the time of the sale or assignment, the debtor has a "chose in action" and a potential right in the nature of a defeasible title. Eibel v. Mechanics Loan & Sav. Co., 52 Ga. App. 349, 183 S.E. 133 (1935).

Where interest in an estate remains in the hands of the administrator, the right of an heir at law to have an interest in the estate is a chose in action. Clark v. Baker, 186 Ga. 65, 196 S.E. 750 (1938).

Limited partnership interest.

- Financial payments to which a limited partner is entitled pursuant to statute or the partnership/certificate of formation is a chose in action. Prodigy Centers/Atlanta v. T-C Assocs., 269 Ga. 522, 501 S.E.2d 209 (1998).

Debts as choses in action.

- The terms "choses in action" and "debts" are used by courts to represent the same thing when viewed from opposite sides; the chose in action is the right of the creditor to be paid, while the debt is the obligation of the debtor to pay. Water Processing Co. v. Toporek, 158 Ga. App. 502, 280 S.E.2d 901, rev'd on other grounds, 248 Ga. 597, 285 S.E.2d 21 (1981).

A debt is a chose in action, for it is personalty which the person to whom the debt is owed has a right of immediate or future possession, and if possession is wrongfully withheld an action may be brought thereon. Anderson v. Burnham, 12 Bankr. 286 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 1981).

A judgment, as a debt of record, is encompassed within the definition of a chose in action. Anderson v. Burnham, 12 Bankr. 286 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 1981).

A bank deposit is within the definition of a chose in action. Ellenberg v. DeKalb County (In re Maytag Sales & Serv., Inc.), 23 Bankr. 384 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 1982).

The proper way to get at a chose in action is by garnishment. Water Processing Co. v. Toporek, 158 Ga. App. 502, 280 S.E.2d 901, rev'd on other grounds, 248 Ga. 597, 285 S.E.2d 21 (1981).

A bankruptcy debtor's pre-petition claim constituted a chose in action against which a creditor's judgment lien did not attach because the creditor did not file a pre-petition garnishment action against it. Jankowski v. Dixie Power Sys. (In re Rose Marine, Inc.), 203 Bankr. 511 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 1996).

Attorney at law, who has money or other effects belonging to defendant in the attorney's hands, is subject to garnishment. Water Processing Co. v. Toporek, 158 Ga. App. 502, 280 S.E.2d 901, rev'd on other grounds, 248 Ga. 597, 285 S.E.2d 21 (1981).

Showing of legal title required for recovery of personalty.

- When the plaintiff relies on title to recover possession of personal property wrongfully withheld, plaintiff must show a legal title; a mere equitable title will not suffice. Eibel v. Mechanics Loan & Sav. Co., 52 Ga. App. 349, 183 S.E. 133 (1935).

Incomplete present existence of subject matter requires potential of future interest.

- If the existence of the subject matter of a present transfer of title in an executed sale is not then actual or complete, it must at least be so potential as to amount to a present right in the vendor to a future interest or benefit. Eibel v. Mechanics Loan & Sav. Co., 52 Ga. App. 349, 183 S.E. 133 (1935).

Tort liability for subsequent property owners.

- While it appears unfair for a municipality to be liable to subsequent adjacent property owners for any preexisting nuisance to their property, the nuisance is a continuing tort and, to the extent that it is a damage to property interests, would be an assignable chose in action which would pass to successors in title. Hammond v. City of Warner Robins, 224 Ga. App. 684, 482 S.E.2d 422 (1997).

Absent potential existence of subject matter, actual future delivery required.

- Where the instrument is merely an executory contract to sell, the parties may be bound, even though the subject matter is known to have neither an actual nor a potential existence, provided the agreement is not merely speculative, but contemplates an actual future delivery of the thing bargained for. Eibel v. Mechanics Loan & Sav. Co., 52 Ga. App. 349, 183 S.E. 133 (1935).

Determination of validity of "chose in action."

- The validity of a trust of choses in action created by a settlement or other transaction inter vivos is determined by the law of the place where the transaction takes place. Clark v. Baker, 186 Ga. 65, 196 S.E. 750 (1938).

Criminal statute did not authorize private right of action.

- O.C.G.A. §§ 44-12-20 and51-10-1 did not authorize a mortgage borrower to bring a claim against a loan servicer for theft by conversion based on criminal statutes; the criminal statutes did not create a private right of action, and the borrower was limited to a tort claim for conversion. Stroman v. Bank of Am. Corp., 852 F. Supp. 2d 1366 (N.D. Ga. 2012).

Cited in Evans v. Pennington, 177 Ga. 56, 169 S.E. 349 (1933); Harris v. Hill, 129 Ga. App. 403, 199 S.E.2d 847 (1973); Canal Ins. Co. v. Cambron, 240 Ga. 708, 242 S.E.2d 32 (1978); Citizens & S. Nat'l Bank v. Wray, 144 Ga. App. 769, 242 S.E.2d 365 (1978); Tidwell v. Slocumb (In re Ga. Steel, Inc.), 71 Bankr. 903 (Bankr. M.D. Ga. 1987); Prodigy Centers/Atlanta v. T-C Assocs., 127 F.3d 1021 (11th Cir. 1997).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 63 Am. Jur. 2d, Property, § 25.

C.J.S.

- 73 C.J.S., Property, § 22.

ALR.

- Necessity and sufficiency of statement in writing of consideration or price for sale of goods or choses in action in order to satisfy statute of frauds, 59 A.L.R. 1422.

Rights and remedies incident to subrogation to one but not both elements of a single cause of action for injury to person damage to property, 140 A.L.R. 1241.

Statute relating to joint tenancy in personal property as applicable to choses in action, 144 A.L.R. 1465.

Cases Citing Georgia Code 44-12-20 From Courtlistener.com

Total Results: 1

Prodigy Centers/Atlanta v. T-C Associates

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia | Date Filed: 1998-06-08

Citation: 501 S.E.2d 209, 269 Ga. 522, 98 Fulton County D. Rep. 1934, 1998 Ga. LEXIS 622

Snippet: possession which is being wrongfully withheld." OCGA § 44-12-20. A chose in action includes the proceeds from