In re Langer
In re Langer
Opinion of the Court
The referee found that-the transaction between Agris and Shapiro & Greenstein was usurious, as it clearly was. The effect, however, of that conclusion inevitably taints the chattel mortgage held as security for the loan. To hold the loan itself void because it was usurious, and at the same time to permit the lender to avail himself of the collateral security, would present a most contradictory situation. If the transaction is void, it falls in all its aspects, and the security in the hands of the lender cannot be enforced. So much seems to be clearly indicated in De Witt v. Brisbane, 16 N. Y. 508.
The effort to prove that Agris held the mortgage as a purchaser and not as collateral for the Shapiro & Greenstein notes is specious. No one can envision the transaction as other than a loan by Agris to Shapiro & Greenstein, in which the chattel mortgage was to be security for the loan.
Nor ean I agree with the conclusion of the referee that the Davis Drug Stores, Ine., cannot raise the defense of usury, on the ground that it is a stranger to the transaction. The cited authorities, Yormark v. Waldman, 127 Misc. 748, 217 N. Y. S. 501, Levy v. Hallager, 119 Misc. 695, 197 N. Y. S. 257, and Williams v. Tilt, 36 N. Y. 319, certainly do hold that a stranger to the trans
Accordingly, the order directing the trustee to pay Agris the sum of $2,225.25 with interest should be reversed. Settle order on notice.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re LANGER
- Status
- Published