First National Bank v. Buchan
First National Bank v. Buchan
Opinion of the Court
This is an action to recover upon a promissory note. Plaintiff had a verdict in the court below, which wTas set aside on defendant’s motion, and plaintiff appeals from the order.
The facts are briefly as follows: One Day was doing business at
1. There is evidence in the case tending to show that, prior to this transaction, plaintiff was notified and became aware of the character of the note in suit, and that it was given without consideration, and was accommodation paper. In the view we take of the case, the question whether the plaintiff knew, at the time of making the contract and agreement by which it became the owner of the note in suit, that such note was an accommodation note, is of controlling importance. If, at the time such agreement was made, the plaintiff had notice of the fact that the note was accommodation paper, it had no right to change its relation thereto, or to make any new contract with Day with reference to it, which would in any way injuriously affect the interests. or rights of defendant. It could not,, after having acquired such notice, by any new contract or agreement with Day place defendant in any worse position than he was in before. And the plaintiff cannot, if it had such notice, enforce the note against defendant under the new agreement to
2. The same rule must also apply to defendant’s counterclaim, so far as applicable to the facts. And, in view of another trial of the action, we may say, further, with reference to such counterclaim, that, if defendant’s right to a return of the $1,100 note and mortgage has accrued, because they have fulfilled the office for which they were delivered to plaintiff, or for any other reason, and plaintiff has wrongfully refused to return them knowing that defendant is the real owner thereof, defendant would be entitled to recover their value as damages. If plaintiff still has the right to • hold and retain them, either by virtue of the contract under which they were originally delivered to it, or because it became a good-faith purchaser thereof under the contract made with Day on June 1, defendant cannot recover upon his counterclaim, because, if such be the fact, the note and mortgage do not belong to him. We may also say that, under the evidence shown in the record, defendant is not entitled to recover upon his counterclaim. It does not appear, even conceding that he is entitled to a return of the note and mortgage, that he has been in any way damaged by the failure of plaintiff to take proceedings looking to their collection, and, as we un-, derstand it, the plaintiff’s alleged failure in this respect is the basis of his asserted right to damages. It does not appear that the mortgaged property is insufficient to pay the mortgage debt. Further comment on the evidence or questions likely to arise on another trial of the case is unnecessary.
With this brief statement of the rules which we think must con
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MANKATO v. E. F. BUCHAN
- Status
- Published