Louchheim v. Maguire
Louchheim v. Maguire
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
J. H. Louchheim & Co. are the payees named in the note in suit, and the defendants are the makers of it. The payees indorsed and delivered it to the plaintiff who has not alleged in the statement of his claim that he received it before maturity, or that he is the owner of it. The defendants, however, have averred in their affidavit of defense that they are informed, and that they believe and expect to be able to prove that he is not a bona fide purchaser of it for value before maturity, and that he now holds it for collection and in the interest of the parties to whom they delivered it. If, therefore, their affidavit contains a good defense to the note in the hands of the payees the judgment entered by the court below must be reversed.
The note was given for work done and materials furnished under a contract between J. H. Louchheim & Co. and the defendants, and in which J. IL Louchheim & Co. agreed, inter alia, “tofurnish all materials, labor and tools required for the laying and putting down of the cement pavements, yards and alleys, curb and coping in the erection of one hundred and fifty-six houses then in course of erection on Poplar and Wyalusing streets, between Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth streets, inclusive, in the city of Philadelphia,” and “to lay the vitrified brick on said streets in accordance with city specifications and under city supervision.” In and by the terms of said contract the said Louchheim & Co. also guaranteed all work done and materials furnished by them under it, for a period of five years from the completion of the work, against all defects whether in work or materials, and they also agreed, on notice in writing from the defendants or their authorized agent, “ to repair said work and keep it in good order and condition for said period of five years, reasonable wear and tear excepted.”
The defendants aver in their affidavit of defense that the work done by Louchheim & Co. was not in accordance with the contract, and they specify the location, nature and causes of the delects in it. They further aver that one of the consequences of the imperfect work done by Louchheim & Co. is a condition
Judgment reversed and procedendo awarded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Joseph Louchheim, trading as Joseph Louchheim & Co. v. James Maguire and Charles A. Maguire, Copartners, trading as James & Charles A. Maguire
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Promissory notes — Affidavit of defense — Suit by indorsee against maker. In an action by an indorsee against the makers of a promissory note, an affidavit of defense which would be good against the payee is sufficient, if it also avers that the defendants are informed, believe and expect to be able to prove that the plaintiff is not a bona fide purchaser of the note for value before maturity, and that he now holds the note for collection in the interest of the payees. In an action on a note given for work done and materials furnished, it appeared that the payees of the note under a written agreement guaranteed all work done and materials furnished by them for a period of five years, and agreed to repair the work and keep it in good order for said period. The defendants filed an affidavit of defense, averring that the work was not done in accordance with the contract, and specifying the location, nature and causes of defects in it. They further averred that the payees of the note had refused to make the repairs when notified, and that the defendants “ have been compelled to pay out, and will in the future be compelled to pay out, a large sum of money to repair the same and place in proper order and condition, a much larger sum of money than that for which this suit is brought,” and that they believe and expect to be able to prove that plaintiff is not a bona fide holder for value before maturity, but that he holds the same for collection for the payees. Held, that the affidavit of defense was sufficient to prevent judgment.