Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1923

Phillips v. Pedarre

Phillips v. Pedarre
Louisiana Court of Appeal · Decided February 19, 1923 · Charles, Claiborne
5 Pelt. 739

Phillips v. Pedarre

Opinion of the Court

Charles F.Claiborne,Judge.

The fallacy of the argument that woul< ialce the " full faith and credit"or"res judicata " theory applicable to this case consists in assuming that the Globe Indemnity Company was a party to the suit in the United States Court oh that anything was decided in that Court as between that Company and Pedarre.

The G.I.Company was not the"transferee" of Lambert's judgment or of his claims against Pedarre.The Company^was the / "subrogee " by virtue of the payment made by it of Lambert’s judgment against Pedarre.As " transferee " it would have required all the rights of Lambert against Pedarre^or such rights as Lambert had chosen to transfer to it,and Padarre would have had, as against the " transferee " the Globe Ins.Co^no other defences, but such as it had against Lambert,'and if it had been"transferee" of the whole judgment or claim,they would have been entitled to a judgment for the whole amount of the judgment of claim. But as"subrogeeywhether by operation of law,by virtue of their payment to Lambert Brosyor by convention,the Globe Ins.Co. acquired only such rights as the law permitted them to acquire.

It could not acquire greater rights than the law accorded to them.All the law accorded to them was the recourse against their co-surety for his share of the bonds,as I have <-ntnl in my opinion herein.The act signed by Lambert in favor of the Globe Ins.Co.merely"confirms the right of subrogation of the Globe Ins Co." and " the Globe Indemnity Co. is hereby expressly subrogated ".Neither the words"transfer" nor "assign" appear in the act.It studiously avoids any inference or intention to "transfer" or " assign ",by specifically stating and repeating *740tlie deliberate Intention to subrogate only,and nowhere uses the woras transfer or assign.TheSs might have arisen a different responsibility or warranty on the part of Lambert if he had "transferred " or"assigned" his rights.

February 19, 1923

To avoid that responsibility he made it olear,in so many words,that he intended only to " confirm the right of subrogation. A lawyer evidently drew up the act.It is therefore misleading error to allege or argue that Lambert transferred or assigned his judgment or his rights to the Globe In.Co.or that this // ' Company waB a "transferee or"assignee".

The doctrine of full faith and credit wound apply as between Lambert Bros and Pedarre,beoause they were parties to the suit and the issues between them were therein decided.But the Globe In.Co. was no party to that/i suit,and no issues were .^¿^raised or decided in any capacity as between it and Pedarre,and ^ no judgment rendered in favor of the Companyto be protected by the doctrine of full faith and credit or res judicata.

For these reasona our former opinion and decree are re-instated and made the judgment of this court.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.