383.020 Property subject to distress or attachment for rent -- Damages for illegal distraint, attachment, or wrongful removal

383.020 Property subject to distress or attachment for rent -- Damages for illegal

distraint, attachment, or wrongful removal.

(1) A distress warrant or attachment for rent shall bind, and may be levied upon, any

personal property of the original tenant found in the county, and the personal

property of the assignee or undertenant found on the leased premises. If the tenant

has removed his property to another county, the distress or attachment may be

directed to that county.

(2) If property is distrained for any rent not due, or attached for any rent not due or

accruing, or taken under any attachment sued out without good cause, the owner of

the property may, in an action against the party suing out the warrant of distress or

the attachment, recover double damages for the wrongful seizure, and if the

property is sold, for double the value thereof.

(3) Any person who wrongfully takes or removes property distrained or attached for

rent, from any person having the legal custody of it, shall be liable to the person

aggrieved for treble damages, with costs. If the property distrained, after the

wrongful taking or removal, comes to the possession of the owner by his wrongful

procurement, he shall in like manner be liable to the person aggrieved.