Friedle v. First National Bank

129 Misc. 309
CourtCity of New York Municipal Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1927
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 129 Misc. 309 (Friedle v. First National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering City of New York Municipal Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Friedle v. First National Bank, 129 Misc. 309 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1927).

Opinion

Ryan, J.

Plaintiff sues to recover on four causes of action. In the first cause of action plaintiff alleges that on April 22, 1918, in consideration of future services to be rendered by him to the bank, [310]*310the defendant entered into an agreement with the plaintiff whereby the bank agreed to pay and allow him, in addition to a fixed salary, a sum equal to a certain percentage of the net profits realized by both defendants during the time which plaintiff continued to be ejnployed, and that the First National Bank agreed to deposit a percentage of its net profits with its administrative committee, which in turn would deposit the same with the defendant First Security Company, where the money was to remain to the credit of the plaintiff during the continuance of his employment and was .subject to withdrawal only upon the termination of his'employment, except that the plaintiff would be permitted to withdraw the interest. Plaintiff further alleges that a part of the aforesaid agreement was in writing and is made a part of his complaint. Plaintiff entered the employ of the defendant bank on April 22, 1918, and continued in its employ until June 2, 1923, but that the aforesaid plan only continued in effect until October 11, 1921. Plaintiff further states that the bank deposited with the First Security Company on December 23, 1920, $669.68 to his credit, which sum is now on deposit with said company to the credit of the plaintiff, and represents a certain percentage of the net profits of the defendants, and that the plaintiff is entitled to receive from the defendants said sum. In the second cause of action plaintiff alleges that on October 11, 1921, in consideration of the plaintiff remaining in the employ of the defendant bank, the bank entered into an agreement with the plaintiff.' The bank agreed to pay to the plaintiff, in addition to a fixed salary, a sum equal to a certain percentage of the net profits realized by the bank and by the First Security Company from the business during the time which plaintiff continued to be in the employ of the bank and that a copy of said agreement is annexed to the complaint, and that the same was in full force and effect up to the termination of plaintiff’s employment; that during such period of employment, and on the 23d day of January, 1922, and on the 3d day of January, 1923, the administrative committee of the defendant bank paid over to the defendant the First Security Company the sum of $1,337.75, which sum represents a certain percentage of the net profits of the defendant, and which amount the bank promised and agreed to deposit to the credit of the plaintiff in pursuance of the aforesaid agreement. Plaintiff further alleges that during his employment he withdrew from said account of deposit the sum of $334.43, representing a portion of the interest and principal, and leaving a balance in the amount of $1,003.32 and interest in the sum of $34.85, making a total of $1,038.17, which sum plaintiff claims is now due and owing to him, and that he has performed all the conditions on [311]*311his part to be performed. In the third cause of action plaintiff alleges that on April 22, 1918, in consideration of future services to be rendered by him to the defendant bank, the bank entered into an agreement with him by which it agreed to pay and allow to the plaintiff, in addition to a fixed salary, a sum equal to a certain percentage of the net profits realized by the defendants during the period of plaintiff’s employment; that the conditions, terms and covenants of said agreement were changed and modified from time to time and a copy of the written portion of the original agreement is annexed to the complaint, marked Exhibit A, and a copy of the changed agreement is also annexed to the complaint, marked Exhibit B. Plaintiff further alleges that during the period of his employment with said bank from the 22d day of April, 1918, until the 2d day of June, 1923, the aforesaid agreement was in full force and effect and that there is now on deposit with the First Security Company to the credit of the plaintiff the sum of $1,673 and $34.85 interest, making a total of $1,707.85, which said sum the bank promised and agreed to deposit to the credit of the plaintiff in pursuance of the aforesaid agreement and that said sum is now due and owing to the plaintiff. In his fourth cause of action plaintiff alleges that at divers times between the 24th day of December, 1920, and January 3, 1923, there was deposited to his credit with the defendant First Security Company various sums of money which the company agreed to repay to the plaintiff upon demand, with interest at five per cent, and that on the last-mentioned day there remained with the security company a balance undrawn of $1,707.85, which he demanded but payment of which was refused. The answer to the amended complaint admits the employment of the plaintiff between the dates mentioned and that the bank had a profit-sharing endowment plan under which certain credits were allowed to the plaintiff by the administrative committee of the plan; the credits are in the amount of those specified by the plaintiff with the exception of $34.85 interest, and the answer proceeds to deny that there was any agreement to pay the plaintiff absolutely a portion of the profits. And in a separate defense it is alleged that under the plan the credits were temporary and that the employee leaving the bank without the written consent of the chairman and president of the defendant bank was not entitled to his share of the fund; that the money has been paid over to the administrative committee and that the committee, if any one, is liable and that the defendant promulgated plan No. 3 on May 8, 1923, and the plaintiff failed to obtain the written consent of the president and chairman as therein required. Prior to the employment of plaintiff the bank adopted what may be referred to as [312]*312plan. No. 1, which plan provided that it shall continue in force during the pleasure of the board and that it shall be administered by the continuing committee, but that at a certain time during the year ten per cent of the net profits of the bank and company for that year in excess of $6,000,000 were to be paid to the committee, the fund being designated as an endowment fund, the principal of the fund being intended as a provision in the nature of an endowment or insurance and could only be withdrawn upon the termination of the employment of the employee. This plan continued in effect until October 11, 1921, and under it the plaintiff was credited with $669.68. On or about October 11, 1921, plan No. 1 was discontinued and what may be called plan No. 2 was substituted therefor. This plan provided among other things that it was designed to encourage efficiency, industry and loyalty on the part of the employees of the bank by giving them a participation in its prosperity. It provided for an annual endowment fund consisting of moneys like in plan No. 1 and was to be administered by a continuing committee, the decision of which committee was to be final upon all questions appertaining to the plan, and its benefactors designated to be the officers and employees in the continuous employment of the bank for more than two years preceding December thirty-first of any year and who in the judgment of the committee contributed to the prosperity of the business. The fund is designated to be a provision in the nature of an insurance or endowment and the principal may be withdrawn only upon the termination of the employment, but the interest might be withdrawn when permitted by the administrative committee.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
129 Misc. 309, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/friedle-v-first-national-bank-nynyccityct-1927.