The plaintiff corporation purchased equipment from a tenant operating a kitchen manufacturing business.
The landlord subsequently distrained the equipment for unpaid rent owed by a subsequent tenant and sold the goods through a bailiff.
The plaintiff sued the landlord and the bailiff for trespass to goods.
The court found that the plaintiff owned the goods at the time of sale and that the landlord's distress was unlawful.
The court awarded damages of $9,000, representing the liquidation value of the goods, holding the landlord and bailiff jointly liable, but ordered the landlord to fully indemnify the bailiff.
