Baker Finance Co. v. Hines
Baker Finance Co. v. Hines
Opinion of the Court
This matter is before us on a writ of certiorari, 254 La. 754, 226 So.2d 520, granted on the application of the defendant, Enoch H. Hines, in order that we might review the judgment of the Court of Appeal for the First Circuit, affirming the confirmation of a default judgment
According to the record, Baker Finance Company, alleging that it is engaged in a general finance business and in connection therewith purchased “251 sales finance accounts” from the defendant, Enoch H. Hines, who “personally endorsed and guaranteed payment of each” of said sales finance accounts, instituted" this proceeding to recover the alleged delinquent balance due with -legal interest from the date of judicial demand and 20% attorney’s fees.
At the request of his attorney, stating he needed additional time to answer because of his heavy docket through January 20, 1968, defendant was granted a delay until January 30, 1968 within which to answer or otherwise plead in this matter. Having failed to so plead, plaintiff on the next day entered a preliminary default which was confirmed on February 16, 1968, casting defendant in judgment for $20,191.-32 plus interest and attorney’s fee as prayed for. On the first of April defendant' appealed devolutively from the judgment of the district court and, inasmuch as there was no transcript of the evidence introduced in confirming the default in the case, defendant, availing himself of the provisions of Article 2131 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
, The court of appeal, in affirming the judgment of the district court, relied upon one of its earlier decisions, Gilman v. Babin, 195 So.2d 737, from which it quoted its prior observation that .“Article 1702 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, relative to’ default judgment, provides in part that ‘judgment of default must be confirmed by proof of the demand sufficient to establish a prima facie case.’ The settled
With this conclusion we cannot agree. While we are cognizant of the jurisprudence that the trial judge is presumed to have had sufficient evidence before him to render a confirmation of default judgment and great weight is given to statements in the judgment that it was rendered “upon due proof”, the fact remains that this is only a prima facie presumption and may be overcome by evidence to the contrary. This court declared in its early decision in the case of Hubbel v. Clannon, 13 La. 494, (1839) that the presumption that judicial proceedings were regular obtains only when the contrary does not appear in the, record. See Massey v. Consumer’s Ice Company of Shreveport, Inc., 223 La. 731, 66 So.2d 789; Vehrs v. Jefferson Ins. Co., La.App., 168 So.2d 873; Clark v. Richardson, La.App., 157 So.2d 325; Miller v. Rollins, La.App., 111 So.2d 146.
It is to be noted in the instant case, as reflected by the narrative of the trial judge as it appears in footnote 2, that the trial judge stated the only witness to testify was plaintiff’s manager and he was unable to recall in detail his testimony. However, he stated further that the witness testified “that the finance company had purchased a group sales finance accounts held by the defendant which transaction was made on assignment of account. The witness identified the instruments or documents in bulk which were then introduced in to evidence.”
An examination of these sale finance accounts, with the exception of one note made by Joel W. and Mary Law
The note above referred to is dated June 18, 1966 in the sum of $217.00, payable in 21 equal monthly installments of $10.38 each, commencing on July 25, 1966 and continuing on the same day of each succeeding month thereafter until fully paid, with interest at 8% from maturity of each installment, with the further stipulation that in default of payment the maker agrees “to pay a reasonable attorney’s fee, which shall be not less than 25% of the unpaid balance of said note or $25.00, which ever is greater.”
For the reasons assigned the judgment of the Court of Appeal is amended by. reducing the amount of the judgment against the defendant to the principal sum of $217.00 plus 8% interest from maturity of each of the 21 successive monthly installments of $10.38 each beginning on July 25, 1966 until paid, plus 20% attorney’s fees. All costs of this court and the court of appeal are to be paid by plaintiff, Baker Finance Company, Inc., and all other costs are to be paid by defendant, E. H. Hines.
. G.C.P. Article 2131 provides; “If the testimony of the witnesses has not been . taken down in writing the appellant must request the other parties to join with him in a written and signed narrative of the facts, and in cases of disagreement as to this narrative or of refusal to join in it, at any time prior to the lodging of the record in the appellate court, the judge shall make a written narrative of the facts, which, shall be conclusive.”
. The trial-judge furnished a written narrative stating, “This matter came up on a confirmation of default and only one witness, Mr. Carter Stafford, manager of plaintiff concern, testified as to the nature of the indebtedness. The court is unable to recall in detail his testimony, however, the witness stated that the finance company had purchased a group of sales finance accounts held by the defendant which transaction was made on assignment of account. The witness identified the instruments or documents in bulk which were then introduced in evidence. He further declared the balance remaining on these accounts and judgment was granted as prayed for, subject to credits accumulated after suit was filed.”
. We think it should be noted that in the Case of Dodd v. Schell, La.App., 207 So.2d 807, the learned judge observed that Article 360 of the Louisiana Code of Practice was not included in our Code of Civil Procedure, it having provided that “When the defendant suffers judgment by default to be taken against Mm, the issue is joined tacitly; because such defendant is presumed by his silence to have confessed the justice of his adversary’s demand ; therefore the plaintiff is allowed to proceed with his proofs, in order to have the judgment confirmed.”
. In addition to tbe endorsement of capital Sewing Center, Ine. by E. H. Hines, Pres., and J. W. Davis, there appears on the instrument, “Personal Indorseement E. H. Hines.”
. In its petition plaintiff, Baker Finance Company, only seeks 20% for attorney’s fees; therefore, judgment will be rendered accordingly.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring).
Baker Finance Co., Inc., sued Enoch H. Hines on what it terms 251 “sales finance accounts” purchased from Hines, alleging that Hines had “personally endorsed and guaranteed the payment upon each” of these 251 sales finance accounts. The plaintiff obtained a default judgment against the defendant Hines for the balances due on all of these “accounts”.
Many of the instruments sued upon are improperly drawn and executed and fail to meet the requirements and standards for
“Undersigned dealer guarantees prompt and full payment according to the tenor of this contract and, in the event of default, authorizes any attorney-at-law to appear for it in any court of record and confess judgment, without process, in favor of the holder hereof for the full amount due, including attorney fees, and hereby waives notice of non-payment, protest, presentment and demand. * *
“Sewing Service_
s/d “(Dealer)
“By E. H. Hines”
The other 60 of these 110 instruments are endorsed as follows:
“The undersigned jointly and severally do hereby waive presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, non-payment or dishonor and notice of the sale of any collateral security and do authorize any extension or extensions in the time' or times of payment. In case of nonpayment of any amounts due hereon, we severally agree to pay the same.
“Sewing Service (Seal)'
“(Corporate, Firm or Trade
s/d Name of Dealer)
“By E. H. Hines ■ (Seal)
“Owner Officer or Firm Member) ”
Code of Civil Procedure Article 1702 provides in part: “ * * * When the demand is based upon a negotiable instrument, no proof of any signature thereon shall be required.” The comments under this article declare it to be a codification of Strange v. Albrecht, 190 La. 897, 183 So. 209 (1938), which held that “* * * the holder of respondents’ note endorsed in blank by the payee, is deemed prima facie the holder thereof in due course with the right to sue thereon in his own name, and by introducing the note in evidence, he made out a prima facie case sufficient to" justify a judgment in his favor”.
Plaintiff’s allegation that Hines personally endorsed and guaranteed the payment upon all of the instruments calls for resolution of the question whether the 110 notes
Under our Negotiable Instruments Law, R.S. 7:9(4), 7:191, 7:18, 7:19, and 7:20,
For these reasons, I concur.
R.S. 7:9(4) reads: “The instrument is payable to bearer: * * * (4) When the name of the payee does not purport to be the name of any person * * *.” In R.S. 7:191 “Person” is defined to include “ * * * a body of persons, whether incorporated or not.” R.S. 7:18 provides: “No person is liable on the instrument whose signature does not appear thereon, except as herein otherwise expressly provided. But one who signs in a trade or assumed name will be liable to the same extent as if he had signed in his own name.” R.S. 7:19 states: “The signature of any party [person] may be made by a duly authorized agent. No particular form of appointment is necessary for this purpose; and the authority of the agent may be established as in other eases of agency.” R.S. 7 :20 provides : “Where the instrument contains or a person adds to his signature words indicating that he signs for or on behalf of a principle, or in a representative capacity, he is not liable on the instrument if he was duly authorized; but the mere addition of the words describing him as an agent, or as filling a representative character, without disclosing his principal, does not exempt him from personal liability.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BAKER FINANCE CO., Inc. v. Enoch H. HINES
- Cited By
- 27 cases
- Status
- Published