Detainer - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition detainer

Definition :

Detainer, forcible. See FORCIBLE ENTRY.

Unlawful. The wrongful keeping of a person's goods, although the original taking may have been lawful. As if I distrain another's cattle, damage feasant, and before they are impounded he tenders me sufficient amends; now, though the original taking was lawful, my subsequent detention of them, after tender of amends, is not lawful, and he shall have an action of replevin against me to recover them, in which he shall recover damages for the detention, and not for the caption, because the original taking was lawful, 3 Steph. Com., and see DETINUE.

Writ of, one of the five forms of process prescribed by the 2 Wm. 4, c. 39, s. 1, for the commencement of a personal action against a person already in the prison of one of the courts. Superseded by 1 & 2 Vict. c. 110, ss. 1, 2.

A process lodged with the sheriff against a person in his custody was called a detainer; the officer, therefore, always searched the sheriff's office to see if there were any detainers lodged there against a person in his custody before he discharged him.