First National Bank of Jefferson Parish v. Louisiana Purchase Corp.

346 So. 2d 345, 1977 La. App. LEXIS 4160
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 17, 1977
DocketNo. 7578
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 346 So. 2d 345 (First National Bank of Jefferson Parish v. Louisiana Purchase Corp.) 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
First National Bank of Jefferson Parish v. Louisiana Purchase Corp., 346 So. 2d 345, 1977 La. App. LEXIS 4160 (La. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinions

BOUTALL, Judge:

The First National Bank of Jefferson Parish brought suit on a promissory note against a number of makers, guarantors, and others for the balance due. Several of the defendants filed third-party demands and reconventional demands against each other. The primary appeal is by those defendants who executed continuing guaranties and were found liable in solido for the amount prayed. One of the third-party defendants who was cast in indemnity for the liability of one of the continuing guarantors has also appealed.

The facts are as follows: The Louisiana Purchase Corporation, with whom all of the defendants were associated at one time or another, sought a line of credit with The First National Bank of Jefferson Parish in order to develop a real estate project it had under way. Initially there was a loan for $10,000 secured by some continuing guaranties, but as the corporation continued to borrow money it was decided that there would be a credit limit of $50,000, and additional continuing guaranties and other se[347]*347curity was furnished. Several promissory notes were made and renewed, with the additional amounts borrowed, and the culmination of these transactions was that the bank held a promissory note dated November 8, 1971 signed by Louisiana Purchase Corporation in the amount of $38,950.72 (Thirty Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred Fifty and 72/100 Dollars) [the note sued upon] with a principal balance due of $37,192.09. This note was secured by a mortgage in the amount of $50,000 in favor of John A. Beni-nate, held in pledge, and the continuing guaranties in the amount of $50,000 each executed by Ken J. LaGrue, Kenneth Whitfield, Eugene E. Schaefer, Jr., William Campbell, Michael Bruno and John A. Beni-nate. These guarantors, with the exception of Whitfield, have appealed asserting that, although they signed the guaranties in question, the bank has discharged them by its actions in extending the terms of the note, and releasing other securities on the note (a partial release of the $50,000 mortgage, and release of certain other mortgage notes) all without notice to the continuing guarantors and in prejudice of their ability to be repaid.

The relationship between the creditor bank and each debtor who signed the continuing guaranty is governed by the provisions of that document. L.C.C. Art. 1901 provides that agreements legally entered into have the effect of law on those who have formed them. L.C.C. Art. 3039 provides that suretyship must be expressed, and is to be restrained within the limits intended by the contract.

Each appellant has admitted execution of his continuing guaranty for $50,000. The specific language contained in the continuing guaranty binds the signer in solido with the debtor for the payment of the indebtedness precisely as if the debt had been contracted and was due and owing by the signer in person. It further made the signer a party to the note, waived notice and permitted the bank in its judgment to grant extensions, take and give up securities, accept compositions, grant release and discharges, make changes of any sort whatever in the terms of its contract and apply all monies received from the debtor or other securities as it may think best.1 By its terms the document provides that the bank may do exactly what it did in releasing the mortgage notes held as security, effecting a partial release of the mortgage, and extending and renewing the promissory note in the principal amount due. Additionally, we should point out that the mortgage notes alleged to be released were not held as security for the note sued upon, but were actually held as security upon another note of Louisiana Purchase which was paid in full with the proceeds from the release.

It is contended however that these provisions in the continuing guaranty are contrary to express provisions of Louisiana Civil Code, which constitute prohibitory laws, such that the provisions thereof cannot be waived or contracted against. Louisiana Civil Code Articles 11 and 12, E. L. Burns Company, Inc. v. Anthony Cashio Construction Company, 302 So.2d 297 (La.1974). Appellants insist that Louisiana Civil Code Articles 3060, 3061, and 3063 govern the issues before us and that they, as sureties are discharged.2 They additionally refer us to the cases of Glass v. McLendon, 66 [348]*348So.2d 369 (La.App. 2d 1953); Shreveport Laundries, Inc. v. Sherman, 7 So.2d 433 (La.App. 2d 1942); and cases cited therein.

While we agree that the above quoted authorities regulate the provisions of suretyship, we point out that these appellants are not simple sureties but are debtors in solido with the principal debtor. We refer to the case of Louisiana Bank & Trust Company v. Bouttee, 309 So.2d 274 (La.1975); Louisiana Revised Civil Code Article 3045, and 2 Planiol, 768. When a solidary surety in executing a continuing guaranty instrument agrees that the creditor might, without notice, accept securities and grant releases and discharges, apply money and securities as it saw fit, without in any way affecting or lessening liability of guarantors, this was an effective waiver of any rights of simple surety claimed by a solidary surety. See also American Bank & Trust Company v. Blue Bird Restaurant & Lounge, Inc., 279 So.2d 720 (La.App. 1st 1973), affirmed 290 So.2d 302 (La.1974).

We find no error in the ruling of the trial judge casting these appellants as liable for the principal demand of the plaintiff bank, and we affirm as to that.

Before REDMANN, LEMMON, STOULIG, BOUTALL and SCHOTT, JJ.

SCHOTT, Judge:

U. L. Roy has appealed from the judgment against him in favor of Eugene E. Schaefer, Jr., for full indemnification for Schaefer’s liability to the bank on the main demand and dismissing Roy’s reconventional demand against Schaefer.

Schaefer’s third-party demand was based on a written agreement dated October 1, 1971, reading as follows:

“It is mutually agreed by the undersigned, E. E. Schaefer, Jr. and U. L. Roy, that the following terms and conditions of this contract represent the full agreement between them and constitutes the full consideration of each to the other.
1. U. L. Roy agrees to secure a complete release of liability of Schaefer for personal endorsements of mortgages granted by the Louisiana Purchase Corp. to the Fidelity Mortgage Investors, Succession of P. H. Corbett and the First National Bank of Jefferson.
2. Roy agrees to cause the Louisiana Purchase Corp. to issue to Schaefer a hold harmless agreement regarding the liability of Schaefer for his personal endorsement of the mortgage granted by Louisiana Purchase to United Ventures Corp. in the principal amount of $125,000.00. Said hold harmless agreement is to remain in full force and effect until a complete release of Schaefer’s endorsement can be obtained.
3. Roy agrees to cause the Louisiana Purchase Corp. to issue to Schaefer as compensation, one promissory note in the amount of $7,500.00 and payable over four equal monthly payments beginning October 1, 1972. Said payments are to be made in either cash or first mortgage notes with full recourse of payment or substitution.
4. Schaefer hereby agrees to deliver to Roy, without additional payment or consideration other than listed above, any and all shares he may own in the Louisiana Purchase Corp. if any have been issued to him.

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Related

Miller v. Harvey
408 So. 2d 946 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1981)
Muller v. Giacona
404 So. 2d 533 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1981)
First National Bank of Jefferson Parish v. Louisiana Purchase Corp.
349 So. 2d 1273 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1977)

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346 So. 2d 345, 1977 La. App. LEXIS 4160, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-national-bank-of-jefferson-parish-v-louisiana-purchase-corp-lactapp-1977.