Merchant v. Worley

449 P.2d 787, 79 N.M. 771
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 10, 1969
Docket183
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 449 P.2d 787 (Merchant v. Worley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Merchant v. Worley, 449 P.2d 787, 79 N.M. 771 (N.M. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

OPINION

SPIESS, Chief Judge.

The defendant and cross-complainant, Worley, (hereinafter referred to as Worley) sought a recovery of damages by cross-claim against Security National Bank of Roswell, New Mexico, (hereinafter termed the Bank) alleging a wrongful dishonor of drafts drawn by him upon his account with the Bank at times when he had standing to his credit an amount in excess of the face of the drafts.

At the close of the case the Bank moved for a directed verdict which was granted. Judgment was thereafter entered dismissing the cross-claim. Worley has appealed and here asserts that the court erred in so doing.

It is firmly established that it is error for the trial court to direct a verdict at the close of the evidence in favor of the movant unless the adverse party has presented no evidence which would support a judgment in his favor. Jones v. New Mexico School of Mines, 75 N.M. 326, 404 P.2d 289 (1965); Edwards v. Ross, 72 N.M. 38, 380 P.2d 188 (1963); Smith v. Loos, 78 N.M. 339, 431 P.2d 72 (Ct.App.1967).

In the consideration of a motion for directed verdict the court must view the adverse party’s evidence together with all reasonable inferences that could reasonably be drawn therefrom in a light most favorable to such party disregarding all evidence to the contrary. If reasonable minds may differ, it is a proper question to be submitted to the jury, otherwise it should be withdrawn. Tabet v. Sprouse-Reitz Co., 75 N.M. 645, 409 P.2d 497 (1966).

For the reasons hereinafter stated it is our opinion that the court was warranted in withdrawing the cross-claim from the jury and entering the judgment dismissing it.

This litigation was the outgrowth of a sale of cattle by Merchant, plaintiff in the action, to Worley.

As part of the consideration for the purchase of the cattle, Worley delivered a draft to Merchant dated November 21, 1966, in the amount of $21,264.00 and drawn on the Bank. At the same time, he delivered an undated draft for $27,775.54 to Merchant. This draft was also drawn on the Bank.

On November 21, 1966, Merchant deposited the $21,264.00 draft to his account with the First National Bank of Roswell and on the following day it was presented to the Bank for payment.

The Bank declined payment of the draft and returned it to the First National Bank of Roswell with the notation “refer to maker” affixed to the draft.

It appears that the draft was charged back to Merchant’s account by First National Bank of Roswell on November 23, 1966. Thereafter, on November 28, 1966, the draft was redeposited by Merchant with the First National Bank of Roswell and the Bank declined payment when the draft was presented to it for the stated reason “not sufficient funds.”

On or about December 9, 1966, the undated draft in the amount of $27,775.54 was presented for payment to the Bank and payment was declined. No question relating to this draft is presented on this appeal.

Merchant thereafter brought this suit for the collection of both drafts against Worley, and the Bank. Worley cross-complained against the Bank asserting, as we have said, that the refusal of the Bank to pay the draft constituted a wrongful dishonor and as a result he sustained damage in a stated amount for which he asked judgment against the Bank.

Judgment in favor of Merchant was rendered upon a directed verdict as against Worley and Merchant’s claim against the Bank was dismissed.

This appeal relates only to the dismissal of Worley’s cross-claim against the Bank.

Worley contends that the court erred in holding that there was insufficient evidence to raise a fact question for determination by the jury with respect to (1) the question of wrongful dishonor of the draft by the bank, and (2) the issue of Worley’s damages to his credit and loss of profit.

I Since, in our view, the refusal of the bank to pay the draft did not constitute wrongful dishonor, we do not reach the second issue relating to Worley’s claimed damages.

We will first consider the bank’s dishonor of the Merchant draft when it was presented for payment and returned unpaid November 23, 1966.

It is undisputed that Worley’s account at this time disclosed a credit of $65,256.36. It is likewise undisputed that on the 12th of November 1966, Worley had deposited two drafts to his account in the total amount of $28,374.98. Each draft was payable to Worley’s order and drawn upon a bank in Dalhart, Texas. Further, on November 14, 1966, Worley had deposited to the account a draft payable to his order in the amount of $21,511.73 and drawn on a bank at Clovis, New Mexico.

The only evidence in the record relating to these three drafts, which were credited to the Worley account and included in the total of $65,256.36, is that they had not been paid when the Merchant draft was presented for payment.

There is no evidence of a substantial nature in the record from which it could be reasonably inferred that an agreement, express or implied, existed between Worley and the Bank allowing Worley to draw against uncollected credits. It is clear that had the Merchant draft been paid when first presented, the Bank would have been required to authorize a withdrawal against uncollected credits, which it was not obligated to do. Worley was not entitled as a matter of right to make withdrawals as against the uncollected drafts before settlement became final. § 50A-4-213(4) (a), N.M.S.A.1953.

In view of the condition of the Worley account with respect to unpaid credits at the time of the presentation of the Merchant draft, it is our opinion that the Bank incurred no liability in declining payment.

We next consider the Bank’s position in declining payment of the Merchant draft the second time it was presented for payment. As we have stated, Merchant redeposited the draft to his account with the First National Bank of Roswell on November 28, 1966, and it was presented to the Bank for payment on November 29, 1966. Payment was declined for the reason that the Worley account at this time had insufficient funds to its credit to pay the draft.

It is admitted that prior to the 29th of November 1966, Worley had become indebted to the Bank in the principal sum of $60,000.00 and was so indebted on the 29th of November 1966. The indebtedness to the Bank was secured by a security agreement covering certain described cattle. The promissory note evidencing the indebtedness was dated November 15, 1966, payable one year after date and contained, among other matters, the following:

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449 P.2d 787, 79 N.M. 771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/merchant-v-worley-nmctapp-1969.