Nees v. Hagan

118 S.W.2d 566, 118 S.W.2d 567, 22 Tenn. App. 78, 1938 Tenn. App. LEXIS 7
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedApril 16, 1938
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 118 S.W.2d 566 (Nees v. Hagan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nees v. Hagan, 118 S.W.2d 566, 118 S.W.2d 567, 22 Tenn. App. 78, 1938 Tenn. App. LEXIS 7 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1938).

Opinion

PORTRUM, J.

In this suit the plaintiff sought a recovery upon two promissory notes aggregating the sum of $2043.88;, bearing date of September 11, 1926, and payable one year after date, executed by A. W. Galloway, and payable to the order of the codefendant, W. F. Nees, who in turn endorsed the note to the plaintiff Ben T. Hagan. The above named maker and the payee of the note entered into a collateral agreement, evidenced by writing, which explains the original transaction and confers an additional right upon the maker in reference to the note. This contract reads as follows:

“I hereby agree to sell all the interest I have in the Moore and Youhg Lumber Company, equally 3734% of the capital invested and profits, to A. W. Galloway for the sum of $6500, $3000 to be in cash and the balance as follows:
“$900 note signed by firm for money I loaned them, same to be charged to A. W. Galloway when paid, and the balance $2600 in notes of A. W. Galloway with lien retained in said $2600 note until paid. It is agreed that a reasonable time will be allowed for payment of the notes, provided they are handled so as to not inconvenience or cost me any money for renewal.”

When these notes matured on the 11th day of September, 1927, the payee Nees requested payment of the maker Galloway, but Galloway wishing to take advantage of the provision of the above quoted contract in reference to an extension of time in payment and Nees was agreeable provided a renewal could be effected. Galloway called upon one Mr. Tarver, a broker who had money of,the plaintiff’s to invest for him, and Galloway requested Mr. Tarver to purchase the two notes for the plaintiff. Before making the purchase the defendant Nees saw Mr. Tarver and he requested him to purchase the *80 notes. The purpose of this negotiation was to permit Mr. Galloway, the maker to take advantage of the provision in the contract which allowed him a reasonable time for payment. Mr. Tarver consented to the purchase of the notes for the plaintiff, and the payee Nees made the following endorsements on the back of the notes:

“For value received in cash ($1000 on one of the notes, and $1043.88 on the other), I hereby transfer the within notes with contract of agreement attached, with all my interest in law and equity to Ben T. Hagan, this October 31, 1927.
“[Signed.] W. F. Nees.”

Immediately following this endorsement, the endorsee entered the following notation:

‘ ‘ The payment of this note is hereby extended to October 31, 1928. This October 31, 1927. Or. — Within note with interest paid to October 31, 1928.”

This last entry effectuated the purpose of the transaction and was contemplated by all the parties, namely, the maker, the endorser, and the endorsee, and is a consent for the extension of time for the payment of the note and a compliance with the provision of the supplemental contract attached to the note, and his renewal in no way prejudiced the right of the endorser Nees.

The note did not contain the provision waiving presentment, demand, notice of nonpayment, and protest, nor grant the right to extend the time of payment other than as shown by the supplemental' contract attached and above quoted. But just how many extensions are justified under this supplemental contract, without notice and further consent by the endorser, is one of the issues to be determined. For this reason we will make reference to the further extension. ■

The next two entries upon the note read as follows:

“The payment of this note is extended to October 31, 1929.— Balance. $1000. This October 31, 1928. Or. — Within note with interest paid to October 31, 1929. — By note.”'
(2) “Or. Within note with interest paid to October 31, 1930.— By note. ’ ’

This was the last extension of time of payment by a renewal entry, and no formal demand was made upon the maker for payment, and notice of dishonor given the endorser. Almost three years later, or on April 26, 1933, the suit was instituted against the maker and the endorser.

The defenses relied upon by the endorser Nees are that there was no demand made upon the maker within a reasonable time and notice of dishonor given the endorser as provided by law. That the holder agreed to extend the time of payment and to postpone the holder’s right to enforce the instrument without the consent of the endorser and without an express reservation. And the further defense that the holder was guilty of laches in extending the time and *81 failing to sue within the reasonbale time after the last maturity •date, without the knowledge or consent of the endorser, and while the maker of the note was solvent and able to pay, he having since become insolvent and unable to pay.

The plaintiff joined issue upon these special pleas asserting that since the original note was endorsed after maturity it became a demand noté, and by reason of the endorsement after maturity the endorser became a guarantor and was not entitled to demand, notice, or protest. And if mistaken in this then, — “By the express terms of the Uniform Negotiable Instrument Act, an endorsement of the note after maturity makes it a demand note as to the person so endorsing it, and suit is the only demand required to hold the person so endorsing it.”

These issues were submitted to a jury and a verdict rendered in favor of the plaintiff, approved by the trial judge, and after overruling the motion for a new trial an appeal in error was prosecuted by the endorser Nees to this court.

The payee, Mr. Nees, endorsed this note a few days after its maturity for the purpose of negotiating it to the defendant in error, making an unqualified endorsement thereon so far as his liability was concerned. His status and liability is defined by Section 63 of the Uniform Negotiable Instrument Act as- codified in the Code, Section 3787, as follows:

“A person placing his name upon an instrument otherwise than as a maker, drawer or acceptor, is deemed to be an indorser, unless he clearly indicates by appropriate words his intention to be bound in some other capacity.”

There is nothing within or upon -the instrument indicating that the endorser intended to be bound in any other capacity; and the oral evidence above recounted established nothing other than the parties attempted and intended to negotiate the instrument by endorsement, passing title from the payee to the endorsee with the further intention that the endorsee might extend the time for payment as provided for in the supplemental contract. From these facts no purpose to be bound in any other capacity than as endorser can be inferred. It inevitably follows that Nees assumed the relationship of an endorser of the instrument by his endorsement, and in no sense can he be classified as a guarantor. The cases defining the status, rights, and liability of a guarantor, and relied upon, are not in point. The principal case relied upon which reviews the authorities and is said to be controlling in this case is that of Roskind v. Elterman, 1 Tenn. App. 272.

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Related

McMahan v. Tucker
216 S.W.2d 356 (Court of Appeals of Tennessee, 1948)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
118 S.W.2d 566, 118 S.W.2d 567, 22 Tenn. App. 78, 1938 Tenn. App. LEXIS 7, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nees-v-hagan-tennctapp-1938.