Mississippi § 11-23-1 - Proceedings when third person claims subject of action.

§ 11-23-1. Proceedings when third person claims subject of action.

Upon affidavit of a defendant, before pleas filed in any action in a circuit court upon contract or for the recovery of personal property, that a third party, without collusion with him, has a claim to the subject of the action, and that he is ready to pay or dispose of the same as the court may direct, the court may make an order for the safekeeping or payment, or deposit in court, or delivery of the subject matter of the action to such person as it may direct, and an order requiring such third party to be summoned to appear in a reasonable time and maintain or relinquish his claim against the defendant. If such third party, being duly summoned, as provided for in the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, shall fail to appear, the court may declare him barred of all claim in respect to the subject of the action against the defendant therein; but if such third party appear, he shall be allowed to make himself defendant in the action at law instead of the original defendant, who shall be discharged from all liability to either of the other parties, in respect to the subject of the action, upon his compliance with the order of the court for the payment, deposit, or delivery thereof. If the claim of such third party extend to only a part of the subject matter of the action, similar proceedings may be had respecting the part so claimed, and the action shall proceed as to the residue as in other cases.