People v. Franklin National Bank of Franklin Square

281 A.D. 757, 118 N.Y.S.2d 210, 1953 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3201
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJanuary 12, 1953
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 281 A.D. 757 (People v. Franklin National Bank of Franklin Square) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Franklin National Bank of Franklin Square, 281 A.D. 757, 118 N.Y.S.2d 210, 1953 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3201 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1953).

Opinion

Action by the People of the State of New York against a national bank for a permanent injunction, restraining defendant from violating subdivision 1 of section 258 of the Banking Law. Plaintiff appeals from a judgment dismissing the complaint on the merits after trial. Judgment reversed on the law and the facts, with costs, and judgment directed for the plaintiff, with costs, restraining defendant, its officers, agents, servants and employees from advertising or otherwise using the word “saving” or “savings” in relation to its banking or financial business in its dealings with the public, and from in any way soliciting or receiving deposits as a savings bank. Findings of fact inconsistent herewith are reversed and new findings are made as indicated herein. Respondent admitted deliberate violation of the statute, and failed to establish its defense of unconstitutionality. Savings banks have developed in this State as a distinctive type of mutual institution, since their beginning, with special benefits and safeguards. (Mercantile Bank v. New York, 121 U. S. 138.) For almost a century only such banks have been allowed by State law to put forth a sign as a savings bank. (L. 1858, ch. 132.) For almost half a century the only banks permitted to use the word “savings” in the State of New York have been the mutual savings banks. (L. 1905, ch. 564.) Thus there was basis for a legislative finding that in the course of time the word “saving” or “savings” had become so associated with the idea of “savings bank” that, if used by another kind of bank, some people were apt to be misled into thinking it to be a mutual savings bank. (Herring, etc., Safe Co. v. Hall’s Safe Co., 208 U. S. 554, 559; 9 L. R. A. 148, Elgin Nat. Watch Co. v. Illinois Watch Co., 179 U. S. 665; 150 A. L. R. 1095, 1134 — 1135, and cases cited in annotation.) In addition, there is a presumption that there was sufficient basis for the Legislature to act (11 Am. Jur., Constitutional Law, § 132), which respondent failed to meet and overcome by competent proof. The police power of the State is not limited to the preservation of public health and safety, but extends to the prevention of fraud, deceit and imposition. (Merchants Exchange v. Missouri, 248 U. S. 365; Hall v. Geiger-Jone's Co., 242 U. S. 539.) Such power may be exercised to protect not only the intelligent and prudent, but also the ignorant and rash, from being imposed upon. (Dillingham v. McLaughlin, 264 U. S. 370, 374; Dent v. West Virginia, 129 U. S. 114, 122; People ex rel. Bennett v. Leman, 277 N. Y. 368, 375.) Section 258 of the Banking Law is an exercise of the police power aimed at preventing a deception from being practiced upon the public. (People v. Binghamton Trust Co., 139 N. Y. 185, 192.) As such, its prohibition of the use of the words in question does not constitute an unreasonable deprivation of rights. (Dillingham v. McLaugh[758]*758lin, supra.) In such a case it is not necessary that there be intent to deceive the State may seek to prevent innocent, as well as intentional, deception. (Fed. Trade Comm. v. Algoma Co., 291 U. S. 67; Quaker Oats Co. v. City of New York, 295 N. Y. 527; General Motors Corp. v. Federal Trade Commission, 114 F. 2d 33, 36.) Nor did the establishment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation vitiate the statute in question, for it did not eliminate the need upon which the law was based. Since the assets of this corporation, and the coverage it provides, are limited, its protection against loss is limited. Furthermore, it in no way prevents the public from being misled, to which protection it is entitled (Fed. Trade Comm. v. Algoma Co., supra), and for which purpose the statute was enacted (People v. Binghamton Trust Co., supra). The State statute herein is not in conflict with Federal law. National banks possess only the powers conferred by Congress. (Colorado Bank v. Bedford, 310 U. S. 41, 48.) It is conceded that the provision of the Federal Reserve Act, relied upon by respondent (U. S. Code, tit. 12, §' 371), does not expressly confer upon such banks the right to use the words “saving” or “savings” in their dealings with the public; and since both the State and Federal statutes can consistently stand together, it may not be implied that when Congress authorized national banks to “ continue ® * • to receive * * '* savings deposits ”, it intended thereby to supersede the State statute prohibiting them from advertising in a manner found to be misleading by the State Legislature. (First Nat. Bank v. Missouri, 263 U. S. 640; Napier v. Atlantic Coast Line, 272 U. S. 605, 611; Maurer v. Hamilton, 309 U. S. 598, 614; Reid v. Colorado, 187 U. S. 137, 148; Savage v. Jones, 225 U. S. 501, 533-534.) Neither does the challenged statute unduly interfere with the operation of a Federal instrumentality. While there is testimony that the prohibition contained therein imposes an advertising handicap on them in their efforts to increase their interest-bearing accounts, the undisputed evidence that such accounts have grown substantially, and that National banks have enjoyed continued prosperity notwithstanding said statute, refutes the claim that it is a “ crippling obstruction.” National banks, being privately owned stock corporations in which the Government has an interest, are not entitled to the privileges of Government departments (Emer. Fleet Corp. v. West. Union, 275 U. S. 415, 425-426) and are not entitled to the immunities of the United States, or any State or political subdivision thereof. (National Labor Relations Board v. Bank of America, 130 F. 2d 624, 626-627, certiorari denied 318 U. S. 791.) State regulations under the police power are not invalid, even when they impose some burdens on the National Government of the same kind as those imposed on citizens within the State’s borders. (Oklahoma Tax Comm. v. Texas Co., 336 U. S. 342, 352; Penn Dairies v. Milk Control Comm., 318 U. S. 261

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Sample, Inc. v. Porrath
41 A.D.2d 118 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1973)
Woodside Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Gallman
73 Misc. 2d 357 (New York Supreme Court, 1972)
Smith v. State
49 Misc. 2d 985 (New York State Court of Claims, 1966)
Zippo Manufacturing Company v. Rogers Imports, Inc.
216 F. Supp. 670 (S.D. New York, 1963)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
281 A.D. 757, 118 N.Y.S.2d 210, 1953 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3201, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-franklin-national-bank-of-franklin-square-nyappdiv-1953.