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BGE 27 I 556 ΓÇó Burden to prove exempt property; retention certificate not lapsing automatically
BGE 27 I 556Federal Supreme Court Official Reports (BGE) / Band IOct 18, 1901Dismissed
Arrigoni appealed against the inclusion of a retention certificate concerning a sewing machine, arguing that it was exempt property and that the retention had lapsed because the creditor did not pursue the claim after opposition. The Federal Court held that the debtor bears the burden of proving that an item is indispensable within the meaning of the exemption rule, and that Arrigoni had produced no such proof. It further held that the retention certificate does not lapse automatically under Art. 283(3) SchKG; a peremptory time limit must be requested and set by the office, which had not been shown here. The complaint was dismissed.
Art. 92 Ziff. 3 B.-G.; burden of proof for exempt property; Art. 283 Abs. 3 B.-G.; no automatic lapse of a retention certificate after opposition. The debtor who invokes exemption bears the burden of proving the indispensable character of the object. Absent proof of such indispensability, an item cannot be treated as a competency piece. A retention certificate does not fall away ex lege merely because the creditor, after opposition, fails to sue immediately; unlike Art. 278 Abs. 2 B.-G. for arrest, Art. 283 Abs. 3 B.-G. does not itself establish an automatic peremption period. A lapse would require an office-set deadline on the debtor's request (consid. 1-2).
Betreibung Rechtsvorschlag erhoben wurde, innert bestimmter Frist gerichtlich vorzugehen habe, ansonst der Retentionsbeschlag von Gesetzeswegen dahinfalle. Dagegen hätte das Betreibungsamt auf Antrag des Schuldners in Analogie von Art. 278 Abs. 2 cit. dem Gläubiger eine zehntägige Verwirkungsfrist für Stellung seines Rechtsöffnungsbegehrens bezw. für Anhebung der Aner kennungsklage anzusetzen (vgl. Jäger, Kommentar Nr. 7 zu Art. 283). Daß aber vorliegenden Falles eine derartige amtliche Fristansetzung wirklich beantragt worden und erfolgt sei, läßt sich aus den Akten nicht entnehmen. Es kann also die Betreibung nicht als dahingefallen angesehen werden. Demnach hat die Schuldbetreibungs und Konkurskammer erkannt: Der Rekurs wird abgewiesen.