First National Bank of Elkhart County v. Smoker

286 N.E.2d 203, 153 Ind. App. 71, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 10, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 715
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 15, 1972
Docket372A130
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 286 N.E.2d 203 (First National Bank of Elkhart County v. Smoker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
First National Bank of Elkhart County v. Smoker, 286 N.E.2d 203, 153 Ind. App. 71, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 10, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 715 (Ind. Ct. App. 1972).

Opinions

Sharp, J.

This action, initiated by Dwight Smoker (Smoker), plaintiff-appellee, against the First National Bank of Elkhart County (Bank), defendant-appellant, is for an alleged conversion by the Bank of sides of beef and hides from 85 head of cattle and for misappropriation of the proceeds from the sale of said cattle. The conversion allegedly occurred when the Bank exerted dominion and control over the cattle when they were in the hands of its debtor, J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc. (VYhisler) but when title to said cattle remained with Smoker. Trial was had before the court without the intervention of a jury and resulted in a judgment for Smoker in the sum of $17,576.40.- The Bank duly filed its motion to correct errors, which was overruled, and this appeal was then taken.

[74]*74In this case counsel for both parties have filed excellant briefs and have made helpful oral arguments.

The specifications of error, as presented by the Bank’s motion to correct errors, are:

(1) The judgment is contrary to law.

(2) Certain conclusions of the trial court are legally erroneous.

(3) Certain Findings of Fact are not supported by sufficient evidence.

(4) The trial court erroneously allowed certain witnesses to testify when the names of said witnesses had not been disclosed to the Bank, contrary to IC 1971, 26-1-1-205; Ind. Ann. Stat. § 19-1-205(6) (Burns 1964).

The trial court, upon request, made special Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, which read as follows:

“FINDINGS OF FACT
I
The Plaintiff, Dwight Smoker, is now and was prior to April 19, 1967, a producer of fat cattle, who, beginning in September 1966 and continuing until April 19, 1967, sold to J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., over fifteen hundred (1500) head of said cattle on a grade-and-weight basis.
II
Throughout the course of dealing between the Plaintiff and the said J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., the transactions between the parties had been in accordance with the recognized custom and usage in the trade, to-wit: cattle were delivered live by the Plaintiff, slaughtered by the packer; shrouded and hung to chill and then approximately twenty-four (24) hours later were graded by the Government grader and, at that time, the United States Department of Agriculture price list for the day of delivery, which was published the day after delivery, was applied to the grade and weight of Plaintiff’s cattle in order to determine the price to be paid Plaintiff and then a check was issued in payment thereof.
[75]*75III
On April 19, 1967, pursuant to a telephone request of the previous day, the Plaintiff delivered to J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., eight-five (85) head of cattle to be sold on a grade-and-weight basis in keeping with the course of dealing between the parties and the custom and usage of the trade.
IV
It was the intention of the Plaintiff and J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., to be bound by their course of dealing and the custom and usage in the trade as to the shipment delivered April 19,1967.
V
After delivery on the morning of April 19, 1967, the cattle were slaughtered, shrouded and placed in the cooler at J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., but were not graded or priced.
VI
On the 19th of April 1967, the Defendant, First National Bank of Elkhart County, who had in full force and effect, security agreements and financing statements on the inventory of J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., which was, according to the terms of said instruments, owned by J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., made a demand for the payment of all sums due it from J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc. Upon failure of the said J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., to meet the demand, the First National Bank of Elkhart County, by and through its agent, Clayton Emmert, offset all corporate bank accounts of J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., against said indebtedness and instructed J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., to proceed to liquidate all meat held by said packer on said date in the normal course of business, but to surrender all sums received to the Defendant.
VII
Thereafter, pursuant to the direction and orders of the Defendant, the carcasses of the eighty-five (85) head of cattle delivered by the Plaintiff on April 19th were sold and the proceeds therefrom placed under the control of the Defendant who applied these sums and all others received to the payment of certain administrative expenses; payment for certain other cattle received the 19th day of April, after the shipment delivered by the Plaintiff; and, to the liquidation of the debt of J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., to the Defendant.
[76]*76VIII
The Plaintiff never received any payment for the eighty-five (85) head of cattle delivered April 19,1967.
IX
At the time the Defendant made its demand of J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., the eighty-five (85) carcasses, representing the cattle delivered by the Plaintiff, had neither been graded nor priced.
X
The title to and ownership of the eighty-five (85) carcasses delivered by the Plaintiff on April 19, 1967 to J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., remained at all times in the Plaintiff.
XI
The Defendant converted the property of the Plaintiff to its own use and benefit.
XII
At the time of said conversion by Defendant the value of said cattle was $20,679.80.
XIII
Plaintiff recovered from a bond of J. R. Whisler and Sons, Inc., because of their failure to pay for said cattle, $3,103.40 and the damage to Plaintiff is thus mitigated by that amount. Upon the foregoing findings of fact, the Court states the following:
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
I
The law is with the Plaintiff, Dwight Smoker, and against the Defendant, First National Bank (formerly known as First National Bank of Elkhart County).
II
Ownership of and title to the eighty-five (85) head of cattle delivered April 19,1967 by the Plaintiff to J. L. Whisler and Sons, Inc., remained at all times in the Plaintiff.
III
The Defendant, First National Bank of Elkhart County, converted to its own use and benefit the proceeds from the sale of Plaintiff’s cattle.
[77]

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Bluebook (online)
286 N.E.2d 203, 153 Ind. App. 71, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 10, 1972 Ind. App. LEXIS 715, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-national-bank-of-elkhart-county-v-smoker-indctapp-1972.