Dewey v. American National Bank

382 S.W.2d 524, 1964 Tex. App. LEXIS 2828
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 15, 1964
Docket7375
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 382 S.W.2d 524 (Dewey v. American National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dewey v. American National Bank, 382 S.W.2d 524, 1964 Tex. App. LEXIS 2828 (Tex. Ct. App. 1964).

Opinion

CHAPMAN, Justice.

This suit was filed by Thornton G. Dewey under Article 5073 Vernon’s Ann.Tex.Civ. St. seeking to recover $40,152.46 allegedly due him on usurious interest and penalties growing out of a note executed by him bearing date of April 1, 1959, in the sum of $100,000 and bearing 10 per cent interest. Defendants-appellees are the American National Bank of Amarillo, Texas, Derrell Henry and W. D. Owen.

Prior to April 1,1959, Dewey was seeking a loan of $100,000 for which he was prepared to pay 10 per cent interest. The security he had to offer was his undivided interest in land notes received from the sale of a section of land bought for subdivision purposes. The notes were non-interest bearing, had several payees, required partial releases when payments were made as lots were sold in the subdivision, had a provision suspending payments in the event of war and were not the type security for a “bankable loan.”

The record shows he first contacted a man by the name of Grady Truett, identified as a loan broker, and sought his help in securing the loan. Mr. Truett took Mr. Dewey to talk with two potential lenders, one of whom was appellee, Owen. Neither of these efforts resulted in the consummation of the loan.

After Mr. Truett’s efforts to secure the loan for appellant did not materialize, Dewey came in contact with appellee, Der-rell Henry. As to which one initiated the contact the record is in dispute. Appellant contends Henry first called him by telephone and told him if he would come by the American National Bank he would help him secure the loan. Mr. Henry testified the first contact he had with Mr. Dewey concerning the loan was when he came into the bank seeking it.

It is uncontradicted that Henry subsequently influenced appellee Owen to make the loan and that before the loan was finally consummated, appellant agreed to terms whereby he would borrow the $100,000 at 10 per cent per annum interest, that he would pay Henry a commission of $5,000' for ■ securing the loan and would pay the expenses incident to the closing thereof, ‘ including attorney’s fees.

Mr. Owen admitted that after he had first rejected the loan because it appeared too complex and undesirable for him to handle, that Mr. Henry later came to his home in an effort to convince him that the loan was safe, telling him the mortgagors on the security to be pledged were highly reliable, financially sound men, and assuring him that he would personally service the loan for him without expense. He also testified he and Mr. Henry were friends, that he knew Mr. Henry was getting a commission for making the loan and that fact might have had a minor influence on his final decision to make it.

Based on the advice of Mr. Owen’s attorney, W. M. Sutton, the note to be executed by appellant was to be made payable to Mr. Henry, Trustee, and it was not to be disclosed to Mr. Dewey or anyone else who was actually furnishing the money for the loan or who the beneficial owner of the security would be. Mr. Sutton gave' as his reason for such advice the fact that *526 someone would have to be available to execute the partial releases on the lots in the subdivision representing the security and that a purchaser of any of such property could rely upon a release from a trustee without the necessity of determining the authority of the trustee to execute the releases only if the beneficiary was not disclosed.

Mr. Sutton required an abstract of title to be brought to him for examination on the property securing the notes pledged to the payment of the $100,000 loan. After it had been examined and the necessary papers prepared, Mr. Henry and appellant went to Mr. Sutton’s office, where the $100,-000 note was signed. Though appellant testified he supposed the money he was getting was bank money he admitted that “I still don’t think it’s a bankable loan.”

Mr. Owen did not have sufficient cash in the bank at the time to make the loan because “he had his money at work” but he made arrangements with the bank before he left for Tucson for a $60,000 loan and authorized Mr. Henry to distribute the funds when Mr. Sutton approved everything involved in the transaction in the event the transaction was consummated. The testimony shows he had done business with the American National Bank for many years and it is without question in the record that Mr. Owen was a man so materially circumstanced that a loan of that size made to him involved no risk whatever to the bank. The loan provided 5 per cent interest, which was the going rate for that type loan, and it was repaid in a few months after Mr. Owen withdrew some money he had in a loan association and in stocks.

When the loan to appellant was ready for closing Mr. Owen’s account was charged with $100,000, a cashier’s check was purchased in that amount payable to Dewey and endorsed by him. After endorsement, it was exchanged for three cashier’s checks, one to appellant for $94,500, one to Henry for $5,000 and one to Underwood, Wilson, Sutton, Heare & Berry, Attorneys,-for $500. Mr. Dewey paid the 10 per cent interest on the $100,000 borrowed until the debt was retired then filed this suit contending the $94,500 item was all upon which he was obligated to pay interest.

The record shows that on the same day Mr. Henry deposited to W. D. Owen’s account the $5,000 fee he had received but it is without dispute in the testimony that he had borrowed that amount from Mr. Owen a few months previous in order that he could clear some bank stock so as to-qualify himself as a director of the bank. There is not anything whatever in the record above innuendoes to suggest that Mr. Henry did not earn and was not paid the $5,000 as a broker’s commission. No issue was requested or given asking if Mr. Owen benefited any from the Henry commission. The question was asked Mr. Dewey on cross examination if he ever agreed to pay Mr. Henry a $5,000 commission. He answered: “Well, for my actions in signing the check, I did, yes.” A pleading sworn to by Dewey was introduced into evidence which alleged:

“That upon said occasion, Plaintiff and Defendant Derrell Henry agreed to the terms of the loan whereby Plaintiff Dewey would borrow the sum of $100,-000 at 10 per cent per annum interest, paying to Defendant Derrell Henry a commission in the amount of $5,000 upon said loan, and paying also the expenses incurred in making such ' loan

The jury found that Mr. Henry was acting as an agent for Mr. Dewey in procuring the loan and there is sufficient evidence to support the finding. They also-found that Mr. Owen did not require the payment of a commission of $5,000 to Mr. Henry and there is sufficient probative evidence to support that finding.

There is not anything in the record beyond innuendoes showing that appellee bank had anything whatever to do with the $100,000 loan except it loaned Mr. Owen, *527 a customer, $60,000 which he used in making the Dewey loan. That transaction, as shown by this record, was perfectly legitimate and the testimony is uncontra-dicted that the bank did not receive any interest whatever from the Dewey loan.

Appellant tendered a trial amendment alleging partnership, conspiracy and joint adventure between the three appellees. There is not any probative evidence in the record to support such pleading, so it was properly refused.

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Bluebook (online)
382 S.W.2d 524, 1964 Tex. App. LEXIS 2828, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dewey-v-american-national-bank-texapp-1964.