Iverson v. First Bank of Billings

712 P.2d 1285, 219 Mont. 283, 42 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 958, 1985 Mont. LEXIS 989

• Court: Montana Supreme Court
• Decided: December 31, 1985
• Docket: 85-158
• Status: Published

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE HARRISON

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

In the action below, plaintiff Gene Iverson (hereinafter Iverson) filed a complaint against two defendants, Howard Nuernberger (hereinafter Nuernberger) and First Bank Billings (hereinafter First Bank). In Count I of his complaint, Iverson alleged that Nuernberger was liable to him for the face amount of a dishonored check issued by Nuernberger to Iverson. In Count II of his complaint, Iverson alleged that First Bank was also liable to him for the face amount of the dishonored Nuernberger check because First Bank had violated Section 30-4-302, MCA, (the midnight deadline rule) by failing to return the dishonored check in a timely manner after the subject check was presented to First Bank for collection. First Bank responded by denying liability and alleging that Section 30-4-302 was not violated because the subject check was not “presented” to First Bank for collection as a “demand item,” and also because the check was held longer than normal by First Bank pursuant to the specific request and authority of Montana Livestock Production Credit Association (hereinafter MLPCA), a joint payee on the subject check.

Thereafter, First Bank filed a third-party complaint against MLPCA seeking indemnification from MLPCA if it should be found that First Bank was liable to Iverson. MLPCA then filed a counterclaim against First Bank alleging, as Iverson had done earlier, that First Bank had violated the requirements of Section 30-4-302, MCA, and sought the face amount of the subject check as damages. Nuernberger, at this point, stipulated to entry of judgment in favor of Iverson and the remaining parties all moved for summary judgment.

The District Court of the Eighth Judicial District, Cascade County, the Honorable Thomas M. McKittrick presiding, granted summary judgment in favor of Iverson and MLPCA. The District Court found First Bank strictly liable for the face amount of the subject check because of First Bank’s failure to comply with the requirements of Section 30-4-302. From this judgment First Bank appeals.

We reverse the summary judgment of the District Court entered in favor of Iverson and MLPCA against First Bank, and hereby order the District Court to enter summary judgment in favor of First Bank in accordance with this opinion.

Plaintiff, Gene Iverson, is a rancher outside of Great Falls, Montana, who obtained financing for his cattle operation from MPLCA. Iverson, in obtaining financing from MLPCA, executed and delivered to MLPCA a loan agreement whereby MLPCA was given a first security interest in all of Iverson’s cattle. On September 2, 1979, Iverson entered into a contract with Nuernberger, doing business as the Montana Cattle Company, for the sale of a number of Iverson’s cattle. The contract provided that Nuernberger pay to Iverson the sum of $4,000 as a down payment with a balance owing of $41,209. Shortly thereafter, Nuernberger executed and delivered to Iverson his check, payable to Iverson and MLPCA as joint payees, in the amount of $41,209 and took possession of the cattle. Iverson then delivered the check, without endorsement, to MLPCA for application upon his debt owed to MLPCA. At this point, MLPCA released its secured position in Iverson’s cattle prior to the check being paid.

Subsequently, MLPCA deposited the check in its account at First Security Bank in Helena, Montana, for payment through the normal banking collection process. On November 26, 1979, the check arrived at First Bank Billings and was subsequently returned to MLPCA on November 28, 1979, marked “Insufficient funds” (NSF). The check was deposited for a second time to MLPCA’s account on November 29, 1979, and was again returned by First Bank Billings to MLPCA on December 4, 1979, because of insufficient funds. The check, having been deposited twice and twice refused because of insufficient funds, was stamped “payment refused twice — present for collection only.”

On or about December 6, 1979, MLPCA, through its assistant treasurer, Alice Tyanich, telephoned First Bank and was put in touch with James Wempner (hereinafter Wempner), vice-president in charge of Agriculture Department for directions regarding collection of the Nuernberger check. Wempner instructed Alice Tyanich to forward the check to First Bank to his (Wempner’s) attention granting permission to First Bank to hold the check beyond the normal 24-hour period. Pursuant to these instructions, the Nuernberger check was mailed to First Bank with an accompanying memorandum which read in pertinent part as follows:

“SUBJECT: Check No. 214-Montana Cattle Company DATE December 6, 1979

“I am returning herewith the above named check and you hereby have our authority to hold it for longer than the usual 24-hour period. When funds are available on the above account please send a cashier’s check made payable to Montana Livestock PCA.

“Date_BY ALICE H. TYANICH, Assistant Treasurer.”

The above memo and subject check were received by Wempner through the mail, but instead of taking the check to the collection department of First Bank pursuant to the established policy of First Bank, he kept the check in his desk in a separate file titled “Nuernberger, Montana Cattle Company.” The record indicates that Nuernberger, doing business as the Montana Cattle Company, had been a customer of First Bank for approximately five years and his account had been personally handled by Wempner during this period. The record also indicates that during this same time period, Wempner received for collection several other NSF checks issued by Nuernberger which he would place in his Nuernberger desk file. Wempner would check the Nuernberger account balance daily and would pay the NSF checks held in his desk file in installments as Nuernberger deposited funds. The record shows Wempner’s actions allowed Nuernberger to stay in business as a cattle buyer and also saved Nuernberger’s creditors the inconvenience of having to send their NSF checks to First Bank numerous times for collection.

The established policy of First Bank with respect to collection items, such as the subject check, required Wempner to deliver the check to the collection department of First Bank where it was to be recorded. If funds were not available to pay the check, according to First Bank policy, the check was returned prior to midnight of the day after receipt of the check to avoid liability under Section 30-4-302, MCA, (the midnight deadline rule). First Bank policy did not allow a waiver of the midnight deadline rule for checks greater than $500.

Wempner acknowledged that he was aware of First Bank’s policy, but indicated that he did not like the limitations mandated by the midnight deadline rule or the policy of First Bank. MLPCA, through Alice Tyanich, was not aware of the policy of First Bank.

Wempner kept the subject check in his desk file from December 10, 1979, the date on which it was received, until January 30, 1980, when it was returned pursuant to the request of Tom Brown, then president of MLPCA. During this time period First Bank did not send out notice of dishonor to either MLPCA or Iverson, or pay the subject check. Iverson’s first contact with First Bank occurred on December 27, 1979, seventeen days after Wempner received the subject check for collection. The subject check in the amount of $41,209 has never been paid.

The appellant, First Bank, presents the following issues for review:

(1) Whether Section 30-4-302, MCA (the midnight deadline rule), applies to the instant case, when the check in question was delivered to First Bank by MLPCA outside the ordinary bank collection procedure?

(2) Whether MLPCA made an agreement with First Bank varying the effect of Section 30-4-302, MCA?

(3) Whether the District Court erred in awarding damages under Section 30-4-302, MCA?

(4) Whether First Bank is entitled to indemnity from MLPCA?

We find the first issue presented by First Bank to be dispositive of the instant case. Under its first issue, First Bank is arguing that the subject check was not “presented” as a “demand item” for payment, as defined by the Montana Uniform Commercial Code (MUCC), but was instead left by MLPCA with First Bank with instructions to pay the check when and if funds became available in Nuernberger’s account. First Bank argues because the subject check was not properly “presented” as a “demand item,” Section 30-4-302, MCA (the midnight deadline rule), does not apply to the instant case and thus First Bank is not liable for the face amount of the subject check. We agree with First Bank’s result, but on a slightly different theory.

The major statute under consideration is Section 30-4-302, MCA. Subsection (a) of the statute is commonly referred to as “The Midnight Deadline Rule.” The statute reads as follows:

“Payor bank’s responsibility for late return of item. In the absence of a valid defense such as breach of a presentment warranty, (Subsection (1) of 30-4-207), settlement effected or the like, if an item is presented on and received by a payor bank the bank is accountable for the amount of:

“(a) a demand item other than a documentary draft whether properly payable or not if the bank, in any case where it is not also the depositary bank, retains the item beyond midnight of the banking day of receipt without settling for it or, regardless of whether it is also the depositary bank, does not pay or return the item or send notice of dishonor until after its midnight deadline; or

“(b) any other properly payable item unless within the time allowed for acceptance or payment of that item the bank either accepts or pays the item or returns it and accompanying documents.” (Emphasis added.)

The parties contend, in light of this statute, there are two major conditions relevant to the instant case that must be satisfied before First Bank becomes liable under the midnight deadline rule: there must be a “demand item” (subject check) “presented” (to First Bank) within the meaning of Section 30-4-302, MCA. In arguing these conditions the parties devote all of their attention to subsection (a) of Section 30-4-302. Subsection (a) essentially provides that in the absence of a valid defense, a demand item, retained beyond the “midnight deadline” by the payor bank without either paying, returning, or giving notice of dishonor renders the payor bank liable to the payee for the face amount of the item. Sun River Cattle Co., Inc. v. Miners National Bank of Montana N.A. (1974), 164 Mont. 237, 521 P.2d 679. The “midnight deadline” referred to in describing the duty of the payor bank is defined by Section 30-4-104(h), MCA, as midnight of the next banking day following the banking day on which the item was received.

This Court recognizes that Subsection (a) of Section 30-4-302, MCA, is a valid theory for holding a bank liable when a “demand item” is “presented” to a payor bank and the bank holds the item beyond the midnight deadline. But this Court holds that Subsection (a) of Section 30-4-302 is not even applicable to the instant case because the subject check is not a “demand item.” Therefore, if First Bank is going to be held liable under Section 30-4-302, this Court must look instead to subsection (b) of the statute.

First, as mentioned above, we hold that the subject check is not a “demand item.” The subject check though dated and due, is not a demand item because it was transmitted to First Bank with the understanding that it should be held until there were sufficient funds in Nuernberger’s account to pay the check. To better understand this conclusion it is important to review under what conditions the subject check was delivered to First Bank by MLPCA. As previously discussed in the facts of this opinion, MLPCA mailed the subject check to First Bank with the following written instructions:

“I am returning herewith the above named check and you hereby have our authority to hold it for longer than the usual 24-hour period. When funds are available on the above account please send a cashier’s check made payable to Montana Livestock PCA.”

According to this memorandum, MLPCA authorized First Bank to hold the check beyond the usual 24-hour period and to pay the check only “when funds are available.” This Court holds there is no conceivable way to construe this memorandum other than to state that the intent of MLPCA was to transmit the check, not as an immediate demand for payment, but rather as a request for payment whenever funds might be available to pay the check. This simply is not “demand item” as contemplated by Section 30-4-302(a), MCA. Therefore, Section 30-4-302(a) is not even applicable to the instant case.

Next, before we analyze the facts of this case under Section 30-4-302(b), MCA, the concept of “presentment” must be discussed. The parties, especially First Bank, argue at great length how the term presentment should be interpreted under Section 30-4-302. Despite the extensive arguments of the parties, this Court holds the term “presentment” should be liberally interpreted as the MUCC suggests.

Section 30-3-504(1), MCA, defines presentment under the MUCC as follows:

“How presentment made. (1) Presentment is a demand for acceptance or payment made upon the maker, acceptor, drawee or other payor by or on behalf of the holder.”

In addition, Official Comment 1 of the UCC states the following in explaining the purpose of this statute:

“This section is intended to simplify the rules as to how presentment is made and to make it clear that any demand upon the party to pay is a presentment no matter where or how.”

The above statute and comment make it clear that the concept of “presentment” is to be liberally interpreted under the MUCC. This Court agrees. Therefore, in light of the above discussion, the only question remaining in the instant case is whether a presentment occurred as required by Section 30-4-302, MCA.

First, with regard to MLPCA, there is no question it presented the subject check to First Bank within the meaning of Section 30-3-504(1). The facts are uncontroverted that MLPCA, through Alice Tyanich, mailed the subject check to First Bank for collection pursuant to the instructions of James Wempner. Wempner also admits receiving the check from MLPCA through the mail for collection purposes. These facts constitute a presentment.

However, with regard to Iverson, there was no presentment of the subject check to First Bank. Iverson delivered the subject check, after he received it from Nuernberger, to MLPCA for application upon his debt owed to MLPCA. The record does not indicate Iverson made any attempt, after he delivered the subject check to MLPCA, to demand that First Bank accept or pay the subject check. At this point, the record indicates Iverson considered the subject check to be the responsibility of MLPCA. Therefore, because Iverson never presented the subject check to First Bank within the meaning of Section 30-3-504(1), his claim against First Bank under Section 30-4-302 must fail.

Finally, after determining the subject check was not a “demand item” and MLPCA properly “presented” the subject check to First Bank for payment, we can analyze MLPCA’s claim against First Bank under Section 30-4-302(b), MCA. As noted above, Section 30-4-302(b) provides as follows:

“[i]f an item is presented on or received by a payor bank the bank is accountable for the amount of:

“(b) any other properly payable item unless within the time allowed for acceptance or payment of that item the bank either accepts or pays the item or returns it and accompanying documents.” In light of this statute, MLPCA’s claim against First Bank under Section 30-4-302 must also fail. In the instant case, within the time allowed for acceptance or payment, First Bank returned the subject check to MPLCA at MLPCA’s request because there was never enough money in Nuernberger’s account to clear the check. The memorandum sent by MLPCA to First Bank, along with the subject check, specifically allowed First Bank to hold the check until sufficient “funds [were] available [in] the [Nuernberger] account” to pay the check. First Bank never violated this agreement and, within the time allowed for acceptance or payment, it returned the subject check to MLPCA. Therefore, First Bank is neither liable nor accountable under Section 30-4-302(b) to MLPCA.

Although we find the first issue presented by First Bank to be dis-positive of the instant case, we also feel it is important to clarify the second issue presented by First Bank. Under issue #2, the facts which lead us to the conclusion that the subject check was not a “demand item,” also lead us to the conclusion that the parties agreed under Section 30-4-103, MCA, that the midnight deadline of Section 30-4-302 should not apply to the instant case. Section 30-4-103 provides that:

“(1) The effect of the provisions of this chapter may be varied by agreement except that no agreement can disclaim a bank’s responsibility for its own lack of good faith or failure to exercise ordinary care or can limit the measure of damages for such lack of failure; but the parties may by agreement determine the standards by which such responsibility is to be measured if such standards are not manifestly unreasonable.” (Emphasis added.)

Montana has recognized that the parties may agree to vary the time requirements of Section 30-4-302. In Sun River Cattle Co., Inc. v. Miners Bank of Montana N.A. (1974), 164 Mont. 237, 521 P.2d 679, this Court recognized that there may be an agreement to vary the effect of Section 30-4-302, but on the facts before it in this case, there was insufficient evidence to prove such an agreement. The courts of other jurisdictions have reached the same conclusion. See, Western Air and Refrigeration v. Metro Bank of Dallas (1979), 599 F.2d. 83.

We hold there is such an agreement, as provided by Section 30-4-103, MCA, that varied the responsibility of First Bank and relieved it under the facts of this case from compliance with Section 30-4-302 (the midnight deadline rule). The memorandum sent by MLPCA to First Bank, along with the subject check, specifically provided that “you hereby have our authority to hold it [the subject check] for longer than the usual 24-hour period.” Clearly MLPCA’s memorandum varied the responsibility of First Bank by waiving the midnight deadline rule in the instant case.

After determining First Bank is not accountable to either Iverson or MLPCA under Section 30-4-302, MCA, the additional issues raised by First Bank need not be discussed.

The summary judgment of the District Court entered in favor of Iverson and MLPCA against First Bank is reversed, and the District Court is hereby ordered to enter summary judgment in favor of First Bank against Iverson and MLPCA in accordance with this opinion.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE TURNAGE and MR. JUSTICES SHEEHY, WEBER, HUNT and GULBRANDSON concur.