Section 3143. Dissolution of attachment; release of property; bond

(a) An attachment is not dissolved by the death or dissolution of a defendant or garnishee.

(b) (1) An attachment is dissolved when any person or party

(i) files with the prothonotary a bond, with security approved by the prothonotary, in the amount of plaintiff’s judgment, including probable interest and costs, or in such lesser amount as the court may direct, naming the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as obligee, conditioned to pay the plaintiff the amount finally determined to be due by the garnishee or the value of the property whichever is less, or

(ii) deposits with the prothonotary, or with the sheriff for the prothonotary, to be held by the prothonotary or the sheriff upon the same condition as the bond, security in the form of legal tender of the United States in an amount equal to the plaintiff’s judgment, including probable interest and costs, or in such lesser amount as the court may direct.

(2) Upon the filing of the bond or security, the garnishee shall be discharged from further liability for payment under the attachment, but the attachment shall be prosecuted to final judgment for the purpose of determining the amount, if any, due by the garnishee to the defendant or the value of the property attached.

(c) Specific property is released without dissolving the attachment when any person or party gives bond or security, as provided by Subdivision (b) of this rule, in an amount based upon the value of the property to be determined by the court, and conditioned to pay the plaintiff the amount of the final judgment against the defendant or the value of the property released, whichever is less.

Official Note

For further remedies available to a third person claiming attached property, see Rules on Intervention, 2326 et seq.; Rules on Interpleader, 2301 et seq., and Rules on Sheriff’s Interpleader, 3201 et seq.

(d) The court on petition of any party may, at any time after notice and hearing, release part of the attached property if the value of the property attached is excessive compared to the amount in controversy.

(e) If the attachment is dissolved or property is released, the property shall be returned to the person from whom it was taken.

(f) The prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee or defendant, shall enter a rule on the plaintiff to file interrogatories. If the plaintiff fails to comply with the rule within twenty days after service, the prothonotary, upon praecipe of the garnishee, shall enter judgment of non pros against the plaintiff and in favor of the garnishee, which shall dissolve the attachment as to the garnishee.

(g) At any time after the filing of answers to the interrogatories and service of a copy upon the plaintiff, the prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee, shall enter a rule on the plaintiff to (1) seek judgment against the garnishee under Rule 3146(b) or (2) place the issue between the plaintiff and garnishee upon the list for trial. If the plaintiff fails to comply with the rule within twenty days after service, the prothonotary, on praecipe of the garnishee, shall enter judgment of non pros against the plaintiff in favor of the garnishee, which shall dissolve the attachment as to the garnishee.

(h) The court on petition of any party may, at any time after notice and hearing, dissolve the attachment if the plaintiff has not prosecuted it with diligence.

The provisions of this Rule 3141 adopted March 30, 1960, effective November 1, 1960; amended April 20, 1998, effective July 1, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2026; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2281. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (213422) and (243921) to (243922).