Clay-Dutton, Inc. v. Coleman

219 So. 2d 307
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 27, 1969
Docket7541
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 219 So. 2d 307 (Clay-Dutton, Inc. v. Coleman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Clay-Dutton, Inc. v. Coleman, 219 So. 2d 307 (La. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

219 So.2d 307 (1969)

CLAY-DUTTON, INC., Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
W. De Jarnette COLEMAN, American Mortgage Corporation and Stanley La Fargue, Defendants-Appellees.

No. 7541.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

January 27, 1969.

*309 Prentice L. G. Smith, Jr., of Conway & Smith, Baker, for appellant.

Lonnie A. Davis, Baton Rouge, for American Mortg. Corp.

R. Paul Greene, Baton Rouge, for Stanley A. La Fargue.

Before LANDRY, REID and SARTAIN, JJ.

SARTAIN, Judge.

Plaintiff-appellant, instituted this suit in the City Court for the City of Baton Rouge entitling his cause "CLAIM ON LEASE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT", alleging that it had leased to a Mr. W. DeJarnette Coleman a 1965 Mercury Montclair Sedan. In accordance with the payment schedule attached the lease was for a period of forty-four months with the following monthly payment schedule: $113.53 for the first twenty-four months, $94.76 for the next twelve months, and $85.06 for the remaining eight months.

The lease is dated October 29, 1964. On July 27, 1966 the defendant (Coleman) abandoned the vehicle by voluntarily surrendering the same to petitioner.

Plaintiff instituted this action against Mr. Coleman, his employer, American Mortgage Corporation, as guarantor and in the alternative against Mr. Stanley La Fargue, President of American Mortgage Corporation. The basis of the claim against Mr. La Fargue is that as President of American Mortgage Corporation he exceeded his authority by guaranteeing this lease in the name of the corporation and on behalf of the defendant (Coleman) and in favor of the plaintiffs. Plaintiff seeks to recover the sum of $723.55, together with 8% interest from date of judicial demand until paid, and 25% attorney's fees and for all costs of these proceedings in accordance with the contract of lease.

There is no dispute about the facts in this case. While the testimony given during the course of the trial on the merits was not reported, the exhibits, schedules and interrogatories offered during the course of the trial clearly establish the factual basis upon which the trial judge based his decision. Also contained in the record are the trial judge's written reasons for judgment.

Plaintiff's petition alleges that at the time of the surrender of the vehicle by Coleman there remained owing under the lease the sum of $2,525.85, "that with the permission and authority of said defendant" the vehicle was sold at private sale for $1,800.00, thus leaving the sum of $723.55, the amount sued on. None of this sum represents past due installments.

The trial judge held that the termination provisions of the lease agreement which provided for a private sale of the leased vehicle by plaintiff and the right accorded plaintiff to seek any deficiency was contrary to LRS 13:4106 et seq. (Deficiency Judgment Act) and particularly LRS 13:4107 and bars plaintiff's recovery. Said statute reads as follows:

"R.S. 13:4106 declares a public policy and the provisions thereof can not, and shall not be waived by a debtor, but it shall only apply to mortgages, contracts, debts or other obligations made, or arising on or after August 1, 1934."

The language of LRS 13:4106 and 4107 is quite clear and does not limit the effects thereof nor the rights to a deficiency judgment to a mortgagee only for Section 4106 clearly applies to "a mortgagee or other creditor" and Section 4107 is quite definitive when it states that the provisions of Section 4106 shall apply to "mortgages, contracts, debts or other obligations * * *"

*310 Notwithstanding the fact that the trial judge decided this case on the grounds that the settlement provisions of the contract violated LRS 13:4106 et seq., a position with which we concur, we are also satisfied that the contract between the parties involved in this litigation is a lease and that the respective parties' rights and obligations thereunder can probably best be determined according to lease law. In considering the facts giving rise to this litigation we are reminded that our Civil Code clearly provides for the lease of movables as well as immovables and prescribes certain exceptions whereby the general provisions are not to be considered as controlling. CC Articles 2678, 2692-2695, Lyons v. Jahncke Service, Inc., 125 So.2d 619 (1st La.App., 1960).

The applicable provisions of the lease concerning the term, return of the vehicle (voluntary or otherwise) and cancellation privileges are as follows:

"TERMINATION & CANCELLATION PRIVILEGES:

5. Lessee may terminate the lease of any vehicle at any time after the Earliest Termination Date specified at A in the Termination Section of the Rental Schedule for such vehicle or, if the circumstances should indicate the necessity or desirability of such action, Lessee may cancel the lease of any vehicle at any time after three (3) months from the date of delivery of same and prior to the Earliest Termination Date: provided Lessee at such time shall (a) not be in default hereunder; (b) have given Lessor thirty (30) days advance notice in writing of such intent (c) have returned the motor vehicle to Lessor at the return place specified at 7 in the Rental Schedule therefore, (d) have paid to Lessor all of the rentals and any other charges accruing upon such vehicle up to the date of return of such vehicle and (e) pay to Lessor the additional rental charge as hereinafter provided, if any, at the time of such termination or cancellation. Upon receipt of the vehicle, Lessor will offer it for sale for cash or, in its discretion, offer to credit Lessee as if such vehicle had been sold for cash, subject to approval of the net amount of such selling price or credit by Lessee. Lessor will advise Lessee of the highest verbal or written net offer received and will, for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days, sell, or credit Lessee, only for an amount approved by Lessee. If Lessee fails to approve any offer during such fourteen days period Lessor may at any time thereafter, in its discretion sell the vehicle for the highest net cash offer then available. Upon termination or cancellation by Lessee Lessor will credit or charge Lessee the difference between:
(i) The Net proceeds from the sale of such vehicle or from the involuntary conversion thereof in the instances hereinafter specified in paragraph 11 of this agreement or the agreed credit therefore; and
(ii) if Terminated, the amount specified at B in the Termination Section of the annexed Rental Schedule applicable to such vehicle less the sum of the Monthly Adjustment Factors specified at C in said Termination Section for the number of months the vehicle shall have been leased after the passing of the Earliest Termination Date specified at A in said Termination Section and up to the date of return of the vehicle to Lessor or to the date of receipt of the proceeds from involuntary conversion thereof.
(iii) if Cancelled, the amount specified at D in the Cancellation Section of the annexed Rental Schedule applicable in such motor vehicle plus the sum of the Monthly Cancellation Factor specified at E in said Cancellation Section for the number of months remaining from the date of return of such vehicle to Lessor or from the date of receipt of the proceeds from involuntary conversion thereof up to the *311 Earliest Termination Date specified at A in the Termination Section of such Rental Schedule.

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Bluebook (online)
219 So. 2d 307, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/clay-dutton-inc-v-coleman-lactapp-1969.