Effective - 28 Aug 1939
533.140. If defendant fails in his defense — assessment of damages. — If the defendant fail in his defense, and have the property in possession, the court or jury shall assess the value of the property, and the damages for all injuries to the property, and for the taking and detention, or detention, of the same, and the judgment shall be against the defendant and his sureties, that he return the property or pay the value so assessed, at the election of the plaintiff, and, also, pay the damages so assessed and costs of suit. If the defendant have not the property in possession, the court or jury shall assess the damages, and the judgment shall be against the defendant and his sureties, for the damages so assessed, and costs of suit; and in all cases the property shall be presumed to be with the party who should have it, until the contrary be shown.
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(RSMo 1939 § 1801)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 1637; 1919 § 2085; 1909 § 2650
(1972) Defendant's liability for interest is limited to period of actual possession, not from date of taking to date of trial. Simmons v. Propane Industrial, Inc. (A.), 488 S.W.2d 253.
Structure Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXXVI - Statutory Actions and Torts
Section 533.010 - Action to recover specific personal property, procedure.
Section 533.020 - Order of delivery.
Section 533.040 - Sheriff to take and deliver property to plaintiff unless bond given.
Section 533.050 - Qualifications of sureties.
Section 533.060 - Defendant not entitled to retain property, when.
Section 533.070 - Bonds taken by sheriff, filed with clerk, when.
Section 533.100 - When order in sections 533.080 and 533.090 is made, duty of clerk.
Section 533.120 - Judgment rendered against plaintiff and his sureties, when.
Section 533.130 - If plaintiff has not property, assessment of damages.
Section 533.140 - If defendant fails in his defense — assessment of damages.
Section 533.150 - Party to elect, when.
Section 533.160 - Duty of officer if property not delivered in ten days.
Section 533.170 - Title of property vested, when.
Section 533.180 - Enforcement of orders.
Section 533.190 - Suit on bond, how and by whom brought.
Section 533.200 - Right of action against sheriff barred, when.
Section 533.210 - Court to allow charges for taking and delivering property.
Section 533.220 - Sheriff and sureties liable, when.
Section 533.230 - Issuance of execution — to whom directed.