2016 Mississippi Code
Title 19 - Counties and County Officers
Chapter 25 - Sheriffs
§ 19-25-45. Liability of sheriff for failure to pay over money collected and similar omissions

If any sheriff or other officer properly authorized to act for him, shall collect, by virtue of an execution or attachment, the whole or a part of the money which, by the writ, he is required to levy, and shall not immediately pay the same to the party entitled thereto, or his attorney, on demand made; or if any sheriff or other officer properly authorized to act for him, shall voluntarily, and without authority, omit to execute such process, or to levy the money therein mentioned, or do or omit anything which would entitle the plaintiff to recover from the sheriff or other officer by any action the debt, damages, or costs in the execution mentioned; then, in either of said cases, the sheriff or other officer and his sureties shall be liable to pay to the plaintiff in the execution or attachment, or to any person entitled to the money, or a part thereof, the full amount of the money due upon the execution or attachment, with twenty-five percent (25%) damages, and lawful interest until paid, to be recovered with costs by motion before the court to which the execution is returnable, on five days' notice of the motion to the sheriff or other officer and his sureties. In case the sheriff or other officer have received only a part of the money due by the execution or attachment, and be not otherwise liable for the whole amount thereof, the recovery shall be limited to the amount received, with damages and interest. The court, at the request of either party, in case any matters of fact shall be in issue between them, shall cause a jury to be impaneled to try the same, and if the verdict be against the sheriff or other officer, judgment shall be entered up, with damages and costs, as above directed.