Florat v. Marchand

26 La. Ann. 741

• Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana
• Decided: November 15, 1874
• Docket: No. 5127
• Status: Published

Opinion

Ludeling, C. J.

The plaintiff sues the maker of a note which was indorsed in blank under the following state of facts: The plaintiff, Florat, deposited the note with Voisin & Livaudais. He agreed with Michel, the maker, to renew the note on condition that interest should be paid, and he authorized his agents, Voisin & Livaudais, to renew the note on the said condition.

The note was renewed, and afterwards it was pledged by Voisin & Livaudais to the Teutonia National Bank. Buck, in due course of business, then acquired the note and sold it to Marchand for a valuable consideration and before maturity. Florat then called upon Voisin & Livaudais for his note, and they failed to deliver it to him under subterfuges. Becoming alarmed, Florat went to the maker, Michel, and notified him not to pay the note, as it was lost or stolen. Whereupon Michel informed him that Marehand had informed him that he held the note. Florat then saw Marehand and Buck, who stated to him they had bought the note in due course of business for value and before maturity. On the day succeeding this interview, Michel, the debtor, gave the mortgaged property in payment of the note to Marehand.

Michel, in paying to Marehand, the holder of his negotiable note, did voluntarily only what Marehand could have compelled him to do, and •the plaintiff has no right to demand from him payment a second time. His recourse is against his unfaithful agents. Where one of two innocent persons must suffer, he whose act contributed to the loss must suffer, rather than the other, who only discharged a legal obligation.

It is therefore ordered and adjudged that the judgment of the lower court be reversed, and that there be judgment in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff, rejecting his demand witli costs.