Beacon Supply Company v. American Fiber Corp.

399 P.2d 927, 75 N.M. 29
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 1, 1965
Docket7532
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 399 P.2d 927 (Beacon Supply Company v. American Fiber Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Beacon Supply Company v. American Fiber Corp., 399 P.2d 927, 75 N.M. 29 (N.M. 1965).

Opinion

MOISE, Justice.

■ This suit was instituted by plaintiff-appellant, hereinafter referred tó as “Beacon” against defendants, American Fiber Corporation, hereinafter referred to as “American Fiber,” See Tee Mining Company, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “See Tee,” and Stella Dysart, hereinafter referred to as “Dysart.” The complaint is framed in three causes of action. ■ The first is against American Fiber to recover $5,-848.46, together with interest and attorney fees due on a promissory note executed by American Fiber, and a.further sum of $217.96 with interest thereon by virtue of an open account owing by American Fiber to Beacon. The second cause of action against American Fiber and See Tee was dismissed by Beacon at the commencement of the trial and need not be further noticed. The third cause of action was against American Fiber, See Tee, and Dysart on the same note and account, but alleged that Dysart is a major stockholder of See Tee which, in turn, owned all the stock of American Fiber; that upon demand being made for immediate payment of the note and account Dysart requested a 90-day forbearance, in consideration for which she promised the execution óf a new note representing the total owing, and that she would endorse the same and pay it when due; that she had not executed the note as agreed, nor paid the amounts owed; and that judgment was requested against the three defendants for the amount of the original note with interest and attorney fees, and for the amount o'f the open account together with interest.

After trial, the court entered judgment for Beacon against American Fiber as prayed in Count I, and dismissed the complaint as to See Tee and Dysart. From this judgment Beacon has appealed.

The points and arguments asserted by Beacon are directed at the findings and conclusions made by the court concerning Dysart, no complaint being advanced concerning the court’s failure to givé judgment against See Tee. It is asserted that certain findings are not supported by substantial evidence but, to the contrary, that all evidence is otherwise and that accordingly the conclusions based thereon are erroneous.

The findings so attacked are the following;

“14.' That on April 26, 1961, the defendant Stella Dysart orally promised to pay the amount of the promissory note executed by the American Fiber Corporation to the Beacon Supply Company, and Mr. Shellhammer on behalf of the plaintiff agreed to forebear on said promissory note.”
“24. That defendant Stella Dysart was never shown a new promissory note to be executed to replace said promissory note and that she was never directly requested by Plaintiff to execute said new promissory note either as- a co-maker, endorser, guarantor or otherwise.”
“26. That defendant Stella Dysart derived no benefit or advantage personal to her from any forebearance of plaintiff against defendant American Fiber Corporation in attempting to collect said promissory note from on or about April 26, 1961 to the date of suit herein.”

The conclusions based thereon and claimed to be in error, are:

■'‘2. That defendant American Fiber Corporation is indebted to plaintiff in the sum of $5,848.46 under the terms of a promissory note as the principal amount therein, plus $824.38 as interest thereon, from April 12, 1961, to date, and $667.28 as and for attorney’s fees thereon, and plaintiff shall have judgment therefor.
“3. That defendant American Fiber Corporation is indebted to plaintiff in the amount of $217.96 on open account, together with interest thereon from the date of_in the amount of _ Dollars ($_), and plaintiff. shall have judgment therefor.”
“5. That defendant Stella Dysart is not indebted to plaintiff on or with respect to said promissory note.
“6. That defendant Stella Dysart is not indebted to plaintiff • on said open account. ...
“7. That any oral promise made by defendant Stella Dysart on or about April 26, 1961, to answer for the debt or default of American Fiber Corporation was without legal consideration and is not enforceable.
“8. That any oral promise made by defendant Stella Dysart on or about April 26, 1961, to answer for the debt or default of American Fiber Corporation had as its main purpose and object to answer for the debt or default of another and was not made to sub-serve any pecuniary, business or other personal purpose or object of her own, and any claim arising therefrom is barred by the statute of frauds.”

It is conceded that if the court’s findings are held to be supported, the conclusions follow and are correct.

Beacon also submitted requested findings and conclusions supporting its views and theories. All were refused, and this is claimed to be error.

We think that a fair summary of the evidence which Beacon asserts is uncontradicted and demonstrates the lack of support of the findings is as follows: A Mr. Shelhamer, who was Secretary-Treasurer of Beacon at the time, testified generally that on or about April 26, 1961, the note in the amount of $5,848.46, executed by American Fiber to Beacon, together with an open account in the amount of $217.96, being past due, he came to Albuquerque to see if he could effect collection. Further, he testified that after talking to Mr. De-Villiers, President of American Fiber, he was asked to talk to Dysart. He testified that he did this and that Dysart stated that if Shelhamer would “extend or renew the note and not file any suits for ninety days, that she would sign the new note and pay it when it was due.” He stated that when he came to Albuquerque he was not willing to give American Fiber additional time to pay, and so advised Dysart, and as of that day the ninety days began to run and thereafter he looked entirely to Dysart for payment and not at all to American Fiber. He asserted that he prepared a new note and sent it to DeVilliers for his and Dysart’s signature but that it was never returned. Upon being asked concerning the status of the original promissory note and open account after the conversation with Dysart, Shelhamer stated, “The old promissory note and the open account with interest was all merged into the new note, as per our agreement.”

Beacon finds corroboration for the foregoing in the testimony of DeVilliers, a part of which follows:

“Q Do you recall Mr. Shellhammer coming to the offices of American Fiber on or about April 26th, 1961, to talk to you in regard to the payments due on this note?
“A Generally I recall that, yes. I don’t have any specific recollection of the date, however.
“Q Can you tell us what occurred at that time?
“A As nearly as I can recall, I believe Mr. Shellhammer said he had been required by his company —there was some type, some sort of re-organization going on, or sale of Beacon Supply, and they had to either work out satisfactory arrangements or they were forced to file a suit for the collection of the note.
“Q What did you tell Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
399 P.2d 927, 75 N.M. 29, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/beacon-supply-company-v-american-fiber-corp-nm-1965.