Caruso v. Hollander
Caruso v. Hollander
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from an order granting appellant’s motion for summary judgment in an action upon a promissory note. The trial court ruled that the note was usurious and disallowed the amount of interest in excess of 8% per annum. Appellant’s sole contention on appeal is that because a corporation is prohibited by statute from
On May 1, 1967, appellee executed a promissory note on behalf of Boston Investment Corporation in favor of Mr. Benjamin E. Becker in the amount of $21,750, with interest at the rate of 4% per annum. Appellee indorsed the note “individually” on the reverse side as guarantor of the note. The principal and interest due on the note were payable in monthly installments of $250, and the entire balance of the note was due on December 5, 1967. The note provided that in the event of default or nonpayment at the date of maturity, “the maker agrees to pay the holder of this note Three (3%) per centum of the unpaid principal sum owing per month until paid.”
The note was negotiated by indorsement and delivered to appellant on May 15, 1967. Appellant brought suit against appellee
Appellant moved for summary judgment pursuant to Super.Ct.Civ.R. 56. The trial court granted appellant’s motion for summary judgment, but ordered that the rate of interest on the note be reduced from 3% per month to 8% per annum from November 8, 1967, until the date of judgment. This appeal followed.
Under D.C.Code 1973, § 28-3301, the maximum legal rate of interest on written contracts is 8% per annum.
Under D.C.Code 1973, § 29-904(h), a corporation may not avail itself of the defense of usury.
[I]t is now generally recognized that a statute withdrawing the defense of usury from a corporation applies also to individual guarantors, sureties, and indorsers on corporate obligations, so that they, as well as the corporation, are precluded from interposing usury as a defense. [Annot., 63 A.L.R.2d 924, 950 (1959).]
In this case, appellee guaranteed repayment of the loan and stands in no better position than the corporate maker of the note. Because the corporation is not allowed to plead the defense of usury, appel-lee is also precluded from asserting the defense.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
. The certificate of incorporation of the Boston Investment Corporation was revoked on September 9, 1968, pursuant to the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act, D.C.Code 1973, § 29-934b, for failure to file annual reports and pay all fees due.
. Appellant alleged in her amended complaint that the only payments on the note were a payment of $250 on June 29, 1967, a payment of $250 on August 23, 1967, and a payment of $350 on January 31, 1968.
. In a stipulation filed on February 14, 1975, appellee waived the statute of limitations as a defense.
. Appellee’s appeal from the trial court’s order granting appellant’s motion for summary judgment was dismissed on June 11, 1975, for failure to comply with D.C.App.R. 10.
. D.C.Code 1973, § 28-3301, provides:
[T]he parties to an instrument in writing for the payment of money at a future time may contract therein for the payment of interest on the principal amount thereof at a rate not exceeding 8 percent per annum.
Under D.C.Code 1975 Supp., § 28-3309, the District of Columbia Council is authorized to exempt loans from the usury laws and to change the maximum legal rate of interest.
. D.C.Code 1973, § 28-3303, provides in pertinent part:
If a person or corporation contracts in the District,
(2) in writing, to pay a greater rate than is permitted under section 28-3301 . . . the creditor shall forfeit the whole of the interest so contracted to be received.
. D.C.Code 1973, § 29-904(h), provides in pertinent part:
Each corporation shall have power:
(h) ... to borrow money at such rates of interest as the corporation may determine without regard to the restrictions of any usury law . . . . No corporation formed hereunder shall plead any statutes against usury in any action. [Emphasis supplied.]
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Grace CARUSO v. Lloyd HOLLANDER
- Status
- Published