Bombolaski v. First National Bank
Bombolaski v. First National Bank
Opinion of the Court
Appellee sued appellants on a note and recovered. The note sued on was in the words and figures following : *
“$667.00 Siberia, Ind., Nov. 16, 1906. On or before September 1st, 1908, we or either of us promise to pay to McCabe and Lindsey or bearer at the First National Bank of Greenup, Illinois, $667.00, Six Hundred Sixty-seven Dollars for value received and attorney’s fees, with interest at the rate of 6% per annum, annually from date until paid without any relief from valuation or appraisement laws. (Signed) Felix Linetti, William Seiler, Mayes O. Cummins, John Bombolaski, George Seiler, W. E. Wells.”
The complaint counts upon the note and alleges that the plaintiff was a banking corporation located and doing business in the town of Newton, Illinois. Facts are also alleged showing that the bank acquired title to the note in suit by endorsement in writing under such circumstances as would make it a bona fide holder if the note is negotiable as an inland bill of exchange. A statute of the state of Illinois on the subject of negotiable instruments is pleaded as a part of the complaint. If the note in suit is to be construed in accordance with this statute as interpreted and applied by the supreme court of that state, it is a negotiable note; but if it is to be construed in accordance with the statute of Indiana on the subject, it is not negotiable- for the reason that it is not payable at a bank within the State. §9076
In this case we are concerned only in determining the rights and obligations imposed by the contract, and we desire to limit our observations to the question before us. That the intention of the parties as gathered from the instrument itself shall have controlling weight in determining which of two conflicting laws shall apply to the construction of their contract seems to be supported by reason and possibly by the weight of authority, but the means of ascertaining such intention is not free from difficulty. The parties may stipulate in the contract that it shall be controlled by the laws of a particular state and where this is done in good faith, the question is free from doubt; but where this is not done, the question depends largely upon presumptions. Where a contract fixes no place for performance, the presumption is that it is to be performed in.the same state in which it is executed and that the parties contracted in reference to the lex loci contractus. Stickney v. Jordan (1870), 58 Me. 106, 4 Am. Rep. 251; New York Security, etc., Co. v. Davis (1902), 96 Md. 81, 53 Atl. 669; Dow v. Rowell (1841), 12 N. H. 49; Strawberry Point Bank v. Lee (1898), 117 Mich. 122, 75 N. W. 444. If it is executed in one state and by its express terms is to be performed in another, the first presumption is overcome. In such a case, in the absence of facts and circumstances manifesting a contrary intention, the parties will be presumed to have intended that their contract should be governed by the law of the place of per
Some of the cases state it as a fixed rule that the law of the place of payment controls the question of negotiability as affecting liability, while others hold that a presumption of intention to this effect obtains in the absence of facts or circumstances showing an intention to the contrary; but as such circumstances seldom, if ever, exist, the distinction is not usually of practical importance. 2 Wharton, Conflict of Laws (3d ed.) §451d. In a few cases it has been held that the place of payment named in a note or bill of exchange is not to be regarded as important in determining which of two conflicting laws shall apply, but these cases are not in line with the current of decisions on this point. Garrigue v. Kellar, supra; Staples v. Nott (1891), 128 N. Y. 403, 28 N. E. 515, 26 Am. St. 480. In the case first cited, the question presented related to the capacity of a married woman to contract as surety. This question is one pertaining to the formal validity of the contract and its decision is always
From an extended examination of the authorities we have reached the conclusion that the negotiability of the note in suit as affecting liability is to be determined by the law of Illinois. If the note provided that its legal effect should be governed by the law of that state there could be no question; and, as we construe the decisions, a provision for payment in that states gives rise to a presumption to the same effect. It was, therefore, an Illinois contract, the same as though it had been both executed and made payable there, and, being negotiable under the law of that state, it must be held to be negotiable here even though it does not conform to the standard of negotiability fixed by our statute. In the hands of a Toona fide holder it was not subject to the defense set up by the answers in question, and the court did not err in sustaining the demurrers thereto.
As heretofore stated, our statute in effect provides that notes payable to order or bearer in a bank in this State shall he negotiable as inland bills of exchange. It is suggested that the effect of the holding in this ease will be to render this statute partially ineffective. At first blush, there might appear to be some merit to the objection suggested, but when we consider the effect of the decision in connection with the statute it will appear that the objection is without force. Our statute can be given no extraterritorial effect. It applies to all notes payable within this State regardless of the place where they were executed, and to all notes executed in this State which do not specify the place of payment, as all such notes are presumed to be payable in this State. .
Plaintiff’s reply to the eighth paragraph of answer states facts sufficient to avpid the defense set up in that paragraph of answer. A reply in all respects similar was held sufficient in the case of Bowen v. Laird (1906), 166 Ind. 421, 77 N. E. 852. The demurrer to the reply was properly overruled.
070rehearing
On Petition for Rehearing.
The averments denying the delivery of the note in general terms are to be considered and construed in connection with the other averments of the pleading in which they occur. When the other averments are considered, it becomes apparent that the appellants did not intend to deny under oath that the note was placed in the hands of the payee by the makers after it was signed, or at least that they did not intend to deny that the makers without objection suffered it to be in the possession of the payees. The averments of the answers show that the note in suit was given to McCabe and Lindsey as payees for the purchase price of a stallion and that by agreement with the payees the purchase price was to be divided into ten shares of $200 each; that John Bombolaski was to take two shares and that each of: the other defendants was to take one, and that each should be liable on the note signed for the amount represented by the shares which he had agreed to take and for no greater amount. It is further averred that it was expressly agreed by and between the payees of said note and these appellants, that the note was not to be delivered or made effective as a note until the same was signed by all of the persons who had agreed to take the remainder of the shares in such stallion; and that, in pursuance of this agreement, the
It is evident that the paragraphs of answer under consideration proceed upon the theory that the payees were permitted to have the note in their possession but that by reason of the agreement set out in these answers, such possession did not constitute a legal delivery. The answers are insufficient on this theory and we are content to adhere to our former ruling as expressed in the original opinion.
Petition overruled.
Note.—Reported in 101 N. E. 837; 103 N. E. 422. As to who is bona fide holder of negotiable instrument, see 9 Am. Dec. 272; 44 Am. Dec. 698. As to fraud in inception or delivery of note as affecting bona fide holder, see 11 Am. St. 309; 37 Am. St. 458. As to the lit bility to bona fide purchaser of á note getting into circulation
Concurring Opinion
The note in suit is not payable “in a bank in this State” and hence is not negotiable as an inland bill of exchange under §9076 Burns 1908, §5506 R. S. 1881. It follows that if the question of the negotiability of such note is to be determined by the law of Indiana, that the prevailing opinion is wrong. In this case, appellee set up in aid of its cause of action a statute of the state of Illinois on the subject of negotiable instruments, and, by the provisions of this statute, the note in suit is negotiable and if the question of its negotiability is to be determined by the Illinois statute, the prevailing opinion is correct. Hence the real question to be determined is, Which of the two statutes must control and determine the negotiable character of said note ? It will be observed that the prevailing opinion expressly limits the question to be determined to the negotiability of the note, and the law of the state applicable to such question alone.
We think the statement in the dissenting opinion, that the prevailing opinion holds that the note in suit “is an Illinois contract from its inception” is subject to modification. The effect of the holding in the prevailing opinion, as we understand it, is that, for the purpose of determining the negotiable character of the note, it must be treated as an Illinois contract from its inception, and that in determining such question we must iook to the law of that state rather than the law of Indiana. This results from the fact that the maker of the note expressly agreed to perform his contract or pay the note at a bank in that state. The opinion impliedly, if not expressly, holds that by agreeing to pay or perform the contract in Illinois the. maker did not deprive himself of the benefit of the lex loci contractus in so far as the question of the validity of the note and kindred questions might be involved in its collection. The holding that the lex loci solutionis rather than the lex loci contractus controls
We do not understand, as the dissenting opinion seems to intimate, that the prevailing opinion charges the maker of the note in suit with knowledge of the laws of the state of Illinois. It charges him with knowledge of the law of his own State. It is the law of Indiana that the lex loci solutionis controls the negotiability of an instrument, unless a different intent is expressed in the instrument itself. Hence when appellants agreed to pay the note in suit at a bank in Illinois, they thereby agreed that in its collection by a suit thereon, the law of that state might be invoked for the purpose of determining the question of its negotiability and that, if such law should be so invoked, that they would be controlled thereby whatever might be its provisions, and regardless of their knowledge of said provisions. In other words, appellants by their express agreement deprived themselves of the benefit of the law of their own state in the matter of the determination of the question of the negotiability of their note.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion.
I am unable to concur in the majority opinion, holding that the negotiability of a promissory note is governed by the law of the place of payment. It is doubtless true that the maker of a promissory note may, by the use of apt words in the instrument itself, expressly contract as to the law that shall govern such note, and his contract will be given effect. But, I insist that a promissory note, executed in Indiana, without any stipulation as to the law governing the same, is an Indiana contract, and, if not made payable at a bank within this State, is not negotiable as an inland bill of exchange. When a note is. executed in Indiana, the law of this State, as to its negotiability, is impressed upon it at once, and such note cannot subse
The majority opinion, however, holds that a note executed in Indiana, by a citizen of Indiana, but made payable at a bank in Illinois, is an Illinois contract from its inception, and where suit is brought against the maker in Indiana, and the Illinois statute making all promissory notes negotiable in that state, is pleaded, with other facts, a special answer setting up a defense to the note is not good. It is a general rule that in the absence of an express stipulation to the contrary, a note will be construed according to the lex loci contractus, and, under our decisions, I do not believe that the naming of the place of payment in the contract furnishes an exception to the rule. The conclusion reached in the majority opinion is clearly based on the premise that, as appellants executed the note in suit, which was payable at a bank in the state of Illinois, it must follow that their intention was, that the note should be an Illinois contract from its inception, and governed by the Illinois statute, as to its negotiability. In law, as well as in logic, this is a non sequitur. Intention to do a certain thing necessarily implies at least presumptive knowledge of the thing intended to be done. "We know that even this court does not take judicial cognizance of the statute law of another state until pleaded. Iiow, then, can we consistently charge a citizen 'of Indiana with actual or presumptive knowledge which this
In Garrigue v. Kellar (1905), 164 Ind. 676, 74 N. E. 523, 69 L. R. A. 870, 108 Am. St. 324, it was held that a contract must be construed under the laws of the state where executed, unless it can be fairly said that the parties at the time of its execution clearly manifested an intention that it should be governed by the laws of another state. In the same case, the court, on page 682, said: “The substantial essence of a contract, evidenced by a promissory note, is the undertaking by the makers to pay the principal sum of money named. The place of payment is an incidental matter. The makers are not discharged from their principal obligation by an unaccepted tender of the amount owing, at the time and place designated for payment, but by such tender are released only from liability for damages which would otherwise accrue from nonpayment. Makers of promissory notes cannot insist that they will pay at the place designated or not at all, but may be sued on their obligation, and payment of the principal amount enforced at any place where jurisdiction over their persoiis or property may be acquired. ’ ’
The legal effect of the majority opinion is to bind the maker of a promissory note, not negotiable under the law of the place of execution, by a statute of a foreign state, of which the maker has neither actual nor presumptive knowledge. Such a rule, I believe, would open the door to deception and fraud, and would be taken as an invitation to cut off legitimate defenses, by inserting, as the place of payment, the name of a bank in another state, where all promissory notes are negotiable. I think the majority opinion is in clear antagonism to the principle announced
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Bombolaski v. First National Bank of Newton, Illinois
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