David S. Novick v. Joseph P. Becker Et Al‪.‬

A summary of the material allegations of the complaint is as follows: The plaintiff is a practicing attorney in the city of Madison, and the defendants are also both licensed to practice law and reside in Milwaukee county. On July 12, 1957, the defendants garnisheed two bank accounts maintained by the plaintiff in the city of Madison. As a result of such garnishment many outstanding checks of the plaintiff were not honored by these banks, thereby making it necessary for the plaintiff to make a private loan in order to secure sufficient funds to pay such outstanding checks. The defendants on the 19th of July, 1957, filed the garnishee summons and complaint with the clerk of circuit court for Dane county thereby making said pleadings a matter of public record for all to see and read. The garnishment action was wrongful in that at the time it was commenced the defendants had no cause of action against the plaintiff and it was started with the malicious purpose of injuring the plaintiffs credit and causing him financial embarrassment and humiliation. On November 6, 1957, the circuit Judge of Dane county dismissed the garnishment proceedings upon motion of the plaintiff. Such wrongful garnishment action injured the plaintiffs reputation and credit and caused him embarrassment and humiliation in the conduct of his legal business with his clients and other attorneys. Damages were prayed for in the sum of $10,000.