Hibernia Nat. Bank v. National Bank of Commerce

16 So. 2d 352, 204 La. 777, 1943 La. LEXIS 1107
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedDecember 13, 1943
DocketNo. 37292.
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 16 So. 2d 352 (Hibernia Nat. Bank v. National Bank of Commerce) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hibernia Nat. Bank v. National Bank of Commerce, 16 So. 2d 352, 204 La. 777, 1943 La. LEXIS 1107 (La. 1943).

Opinion

ROGERS, Justice.

This is a suit wherein the Hibernia National Bank in New Orleans (hereinafter referred to as Hibernia Bank) seeks to recover $100,000, with interest, from the National Bank of Commerce in New Orleans (hereinafter referred to as Bank of' Commerce). Hibernia Bank’s action ' is founded on the guaranty by the Bank of Commerce of the endorsement of a cashier’s check for the amount sued for, issued by Hibernia Bank to the order of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (hereinafter referred to as Louisiana State University).

Hibernia Bank alleges that on June 14, 1939, it made a loan of $100,000 to Louisiana State University, represented by J. M. Smith, its then president; that the loan was evidenced by a demand note for the amount borrowed, made payable to the order of Hibernia Bank by Louisiana State University, through Smith; that on June 14, 1939, Hibernia Bank issued its cashier’s check payable to Louisiana State University for the amount of the loan; that on June IS, 1939, the check bearing the endorsement of Louisiana State University, by Smith as president, and the guaranty of the endorsement by the Bank of Commerce, was presented for payment to Hibernia Bank through the New Orleans Clearing House; that relying on the endorsement and guaranty Hibernia Bank paid the amount of the check to the Bank of Commerce; that thereafter Hibernia Bank was informed, and so avers, that the endorsement appearing on the check was void because Smith was unauthorized to make the endorsement and that no part of the proceeds of the check was received by 'Louisiana State University or used or applied for its benefit; that Louisiana State *781 University has refused to recognize the validity of the loan made by Smith and has repudiated the entire transaction.

The Bank of Commerce in its answer to the petition admits the allegations relative to the loan, the issuance of its cashier’s check by Hibernia Bank to the order of Louisiana State University, the endorsement of the check by Smith in the name of the University, the guaranty of the endorsement, and the collection of the amount of the check. But Bank of Commerce denies that Hibernia Bank paid the amount of the check relying upon the endorsement and guaranty as set forth in the petition and, for want of information, Bank of Commerce denies the allegations relative to the refusal of Louisiana State University to recognize the validity of the transaction. The Bank of Commerce avers that the alleged repudiation of the transaction by Louisiana State University is a matter which relates to a controversy between Hibernia Bank and the University ; that the check issued by Hibernia Bank to the order of Louisiana State University was endorsed in the name of the University by its then president, J. M. Smith, and was properly deposited in the account maintained with Bank of Commerce by the University which was credited with the amount of the deposit the day it was made. Bank of Commerce denies any liability to Hibernia Bank.

Upon the issues thus made up, the case was heard on the merits and resulted in a judgment in favor of Bank of Commerce and against Hibernia Bank dismissing the suit. Hibernia Bank is appealing from the judgment.

Much evidence, both oral and documentary, was produced by the parties on' the trial of the case. As disclosed by the evidence, these are the facts.

On June 14, 1939, James M. Smith, presented to Hibernia Bank a resolution, certified by him as President and ex-officio Secretary of Louisiana State University, purporting to authorize him as President to borrow on behalf of the University from Hibernia Bank the sum of $100,000 and to execute a demand note therefor. On the faith of what it considered to be a valid resolution, Hibernia Bank agreed to make the loan referred to therein. Accordingly, Hibernia Bank accepted 'the note of Louisiana State University executed by Smith as President, and, contemporaneously therewith, executed its cashier’s check for- $100,000 payable to “Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.” The check was delivered to Smith, who, on the same day — June 14, 1939 — after endorsing the check “Louisiana State University and A. & M. College, per J. M: Smith, Pres.,” delivered the check tó the discount clerk of the Bank of Commerce. On the next day — June 15, 1939 — the check, bearing Smith’s endorsement and the guaranty of the endorsement by Bank of Commerce, was presented for payment to Hibernia Bank, through the New Orleans Clearing House. Relying on the guaranty by the Bank of Commerce and pursuant to section 9 of Rule 4 of the Rules and Regulations of the New Orlean Clearing House Association, Hibernia *783 Bank paid $100,000, the amount of its cashier’s check, to the Bank of Commerce.

The principal hank account of Louisiana ' State University was carried in the City National Bank of Baton Rouge. However, on February 3, 1937, Smith opened an account in the name of the University with the National Bank of Commerce in New Orleans. The initial deposit in the account, amounting to $1,006,888.90, represented the proceeds of $1,000,000 of 4% Serial Bonds of the University, which Smith was authorized to sell and deliver to certain dealers in bonds in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Supervisors adopted on January 11, 1937. Thereafter, from time to time, other deposits were made in the account until it was closed on June 29, 1939. These deposits were made up largely of proceeds derived from the sale of bonds or from the collection of interest coupons attached to the bonds, which transactions were handled through the bond department of the National Bank of Commerce. The amounts deposited were withdrawn from time to time by checks signed by C. G. Johnson, auditor of the University. Many of these withdrawals were for relatively small sums.1 The $100,000 represented by the check of Hibernia Bank was placed to the credit of Louisiana State University on June 14, 1939, the day the check was delivered by Smith to the Bank. The next day — June 15, 1939 — Smith withdrew the $100,000 from the Bank of Commerce. On that day, Smith, on his oral request, obtained from the discount clerk of the Bank of Commerce a cashier’s check made payable to the order of Fenner. & Beane, a stock and bond brokerage house in .New Orleans. This check was delivered by Smith to J. M. Brown, who was carrying an account on the books of Fenner & Beane in his name for the benefit of Smith personally. Brown delivered the check to Fenner & Beane, and its proceeds were used to discharge a personal indebtedness due by Smith to that firm. This indebtedness grew out of certain speculations in wheat in which Smith was engaged.

When the account- of Louisiana State University in the Bank of Commerce was closed on June 29, 1939, there remained to the credit of the University, exclusive of the deposit on June 14, 1939, of the $100,-000 in contest here, the sum of $7,797.73. This balance was withdrawn and the account closed under the direction of Dr. Paul M. Hebert, Acting President of the Louisiana State University.

On June 25, 1939, Smith left the State of Louisiana, and on June 27, 1939, Dr. Hebert, who was Dean of the Law School, was appointed acting president of the University, occupying that position until July 1, 1941. An investigation of Smith’s transactions involving the University was immediately undertaken by direction of the University authorities.

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Bluebook (online)
16 So. 2d 352, 204 La. 777, 1943 La. LEXIS 1107, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hibernia-nat-bank-v-national-bank-of-commerce-la-1943.