Marsh v. Hayford

13 A. 271, 80 Me. 97, 1888 Me. LEXIS 19

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: January 27, 1888
• Status: Published

Opinion

Haskell, J.

Assumpsit for money paid by the plaintiff at the defendant’s request, and for money had and received by the defendant to the plaintiff’s use. Plea, the general issue and the statute of limitations.

The plaintiff, being the owner of the defendant’s promissory note payable to the order of another and not indorsed by him, sold and delivered the note to one Bray, and guaranteed the payment of it without the request, assent or knowledge of the defendant, and was compelled to pay, by judgment at law upon his contract of guaranty, the amount of the note after the same was barred by the statute of limitations, but within six years of the date of his writ. See Bray v. Marsh, 75 Maine, 452.

An action at law upon the note could only be maintained in the name of the payee or his personal representative. Brown v. Nourse, 55 Maine, 230. So that the plaintiff cannot recover upon the note, even though his action upon it be not barred by the statute of limitations.

The plaintiff’s sale and guaranty of the note was a separate and independent contract of his own. Seavey v. Coffin, 64 Maine, 224. It could not affect the defendant who wras.neither party nor privy to it.

The defendant’s liability upon, the note was barred six years after the same fell due. The plaintiff might have seasonably paid his guaranty and have caused a suit to be brought upon the note before it became barred by the statute. This he did not do, and from his want of vigilance he must suffer.

This is not the case of a surety whose liability was incurred for the defendant’s benefit and at his request, nor of an indorser who was authorized to incur liability for the maker by the terms of the note. Woodward v. Ware, 37 Maine, 563 ; Godfrey v. Rice, 59 Maine, 308. It is an independent collateral contract apart from the note, and has no more relation to it than it would have had if the same had not been negotiated, and should not charge the defendant with a liability that he did not authorize the plaintiff to assume in his behalf.

One can charge another only for money paid to the latter’s use at his request, express or implied ; anda request is implied when the payment is compelled by the violation of some promise or duty of the latter to the former. Davis v. Smith, 79 Maine, 351. The plaintiff was not compelled to pay this note; he was compelled to pay his voluntary promise to pay it, given without request or authority from the defendant.

If this plaintiff can recover, any man who may guarantee or insure the payment of a stranger’s debt may enlarge the statute bar from six to twelve years without the latter’s consent, and in violation of the terms of his contract. No case lias been cited to authorize such doctrine.

Exceptions sustained.

Peters, C. J., Walton, Virgin, Libbey and Foster, JJ.,, concurred..