Staples v. Nott

11 N.Y.S. 924, 34 N.Y. St. Rep. 175
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 15, 1890
StatusPublished

This text of 11 N.Y.S. 924 (Staples v. Nott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Staples v. Nott, 11 N.Y.S. 924, 34 N.Y. St. Rep. 175 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1890).

Opinion

Merwin, J.

The facts in this case are in the main undisputed. So far as there is any dispute about them, the verdict as directed is to be treated as the verdict in fact of the jury, as no request was made to go to the jury. Dillon v. Cockroft, 90 N. Y. 649. At Washington, where the note purports to have been made, it was lawful for the parties to agree that the rate of interest should be 7 per cent. The appellant however claims that the question as to the validity of the agreement as to interest should be determined upon the theory that it was a Mew York contract, and therefore usurious. The circumstances upon which he mainly relies are that the note was payable in this state, and that it was in fact signed and indorsed in this state. It appears that on the 5th April, 1888, the plaintiff, who lived at Washington, loaned to the defendant S. G. Mott $3,000, taking therefor a note for that amount dated at Washington, D. C., April 5, 1888, made by S. G. Nott to the order of and indorsed by C. A. Nott, payable one year after date at the Mational Metropolitan Bank, with interest at 7 per cent. Mo question is made as to the validity of this note. Some payments were made [925]*925upon it, and, shortly before it became due, the maker applied to the plaintiff for a renewal as to the balance. He saw the plaintiff at Washington, and there the amount due on the old note was figured up, and the note in suit was then drawn by the plaintiff for the balance due, and handed to S. G. Nott, who took it and immediately went to Syracuse, in this state, where C. A. Nott resided. There S. G. Nott signed the note, and C. A. Nott indorsed it, and mailed it to the plaintiff. The understanding at Washington between plaintiff and S. G. Nott was that upon the return of the new note, so executed, the plaintiff would send to S. G. Nott the old one. The case of Wayne Co. Sav. Bank v. Low, 81 N. Y. 566, is quite in point. There, in pursuance of an arrangement made in Pennsylvania between plaintiff, a corporation of that state, and defendant, a resident of this state, for the renewal of a note held by the plaintiff, made by the defendant, the plaintiff’s cashier wrote and sent by mail to defendant a note for him to execute and return. This note was dated and executed by defendant in this state, and was made payable here, and was returned to plaintiff by mail with a check to pay the discount. The discount was at a rate lawful in Pennsylvania, but greater than lawful interest in this state. It was held that as the note was executed to be used in Pennsylvania, the law of that state must control, and that therefore the note was not usurious. Rapallo, J., says: “It cannot be contended that a party who goes into another state and there makes an agreement with a citizen of that state for the loan or forbearance of money, lawful by the laws of that state, can render his obligation void by making it payable in another state according to whose laws the contract would be usurious. Heither can it be claimed that because the obligation, instead of being signed in the state where the contract was made, is signed in another state, and sent by mail to the place of the contract, it must be governed by the usury laws of the place where it was signed.” A similar doctrine is laid down in Pratt v. Adams, 7 Paige, 616; Balme v. Wombough, 38 Barb. 352, 363. In the present case the evidence warrants the finding that the note was executed to be used in Washington, in pursuance of an agreement there made, between the maker, and plaintiff. The terms of the note, one of which was the rate of interest, were there agreed upon. The purpose for which the note was given was known to the indorser; he himself sent the note to the plaintiff.- Upon its receipt by the plaintiff, and the surrender of the old note, the arrangement was completed. The indorser, as to this defense, has no greater rights than the maker. Stewart v. Bramhall, 74 N. Y. 87. There is no essential difference between this case and the Wayne Co. Sav. Bank Case above cited. Ho authority or consideration is presented by the appellant that would justify us in disregarding the authority of that case. It follows that the question of interest is to be determined according to the law at Washington, and consequently the noté is valid. Judgment and order affirmed, with costs. All concur.

NOTE.

Usury—Conflict of Laws—General Rule. A personal contract is to be governed by the law of the place where it is made, as to its validity, nature, obligation, and interpretation, unless it is by its terms to be performed elsewhere, in which event it is to be governed by the law of the place where it is to be performed. Chapman v. Robertson, 6 Paige, 627; Jacks v. Nichols, 5 N. Y. 178; Davis v. Garr, 6 N. Y. 124; Curtis v. Leavitt, 15 N. Y. 9; Jewell v. Wright, 30 N. Y. 259; Dickinson v. Edwards, 77 N. Y. 573.

Law of Place of Payment. A promissory note or bill of exchange is ordinarily governed by the usury laws of the state where it is payable. Jewell v. Wright, 30 N. Y. 259. In this case, Wright made the note payable in New York to the order of Dunlap, who indorsed and delivered it to Taylor for the accommodation of the latter. The making, indorsement, and delivery all occurred in New York. Taylor took the note to' Connecticut where he had it discounted. There was no evidence that the drawer and indorser intended the note to be used out of New York. On this state of facts, it was held that, though the note was negotiated in Connecticut, it was to be performed in New York, and was governed by the usury laws of that state. This decision was criti[926]*926cised and disapproved in Bank v. Morris, 4 Thomp. & C. 182; Bowen v. Bradley, 9 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 395, (Super. Ct. Buffalo;) Bank v. Low, 6 Abb. N. C. 76, (C. P. N. Y.) It was afterwards examined and approved by the court of appeals in Dickinson v. Edwards, 77 N. Y. 573. See, also, Pomeroy v. Ainsworth, 22 Barb. 119. A note made in New York, but dated in Florida, and payable there, is governed as to usury by the laws of that place. Cutler v. Wright, 22 N. Y. 472; following Curtis v. Leavitt, 15 N. Y. 9. See, also, Croninger v. Crocker, 62 N. Y. 151. An accommodation note made and delivered in York where it is payable, is governed by the law of New York as to the question of usury, though the note was negotiated in another state. Cloyes v. Hooker, 6 Thomp. & C. 448; following Jewell v. Wright, supra. Defendant loaned money to plaintiff in New York, both parties being residents of that state. Afterwards', while defendant was temporarily in Connecticut, the loan was renewed, and notes therefor were given payable in New York. Held that, even if the renewal contract was made in Connecticut, it was made with reference to the New York laws, which governed on the question of usury. Jacks v. Nichols, 5 N. Y. 178. A note made in Canada payable to plaintiffs, who resided in England, “with interest until paid in England, ” draws interest at the rate allowed by the law of England. Scofield v. Day, 20 Johns. 102. See, also, Fanning v. Cousequa, 17 Johns. 511.

Where no Place of Payment is Specified. A bond given in New York, secured by a mortgage of lands in Wisconsin, no place of payment being specified, is governed by the usury laws of New York. Cope v. Alden, 53 Barb. 850.

Precedent Debt Arising in Another State. A note executed, delivered, and made payable in New York, but given for a precedent debt arising in and owing to a resident of Dakota, is governed by thé usury laws of New York. Bank v. Southwick, 67 How. Pr. 324.

Law of Place Where Contract is Made.

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

Related

Jewell v. . Wright
30 N.Y. 259 (New York Court of Appeals, 1864)
Curtis and Others v. . Leavitt
15 N.Y. 9 (New York Court of Appeals, 1857)
Dillon v. . Cockcroft
90 N.Y. 649 (New York Court of Appeals, 1882)
Jacks v. . Nichols
5 N.Y. 178 (New York Court of Appeals, 1851)
Wayne County Savings Bank v. . Low
81 N.Y. 566 (New York Court of Appeals, 1880)
Croninger v. . Crocker
62 N.Y. 151 (New York Court of Appeals, 1875)
Davis v. . Garr
6 N.Y. 124 (New York Court of Appeals, 1851)
Dickinson v. . Edwards
77 N.Y. 573 (New York Court of Appeals, 1879)
Cutler v. . Wright
22 N.Y. 472 (New York Court of Appeals, 1860)
Balme v. Wombough
38 Barb. 352 (New York Supreme Court, 1862)
Bank of Georgia v. Lewin
45 Barb. 340 (New York Supreme Court, 1865)
Merchants' National Bank of St. Paul v. Southwick
67 How. Pr. 324 (New York Supreme Court, 1884)
Scofield v. Day
20 Johns. 102 (New York Supreme Court, 1822)
Marvin v. M'Cullum
20 Johns. 288 (New York Supreme Court, 1822)
Chapman v. Robertson
6 Paige Ch. 627 (New York Court of Chancery, 1837)
Le Baron v. Van Brunt
9 Daly 349 (New York Court of Common Pleas, 1880)
Fanning v. Consequa
17 Johns. 511 (Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors, 1820)
Wayne County Savings Bank v. Low
6 Abb. N. Cas. 76 (New York Court of Common Pleas, 1878)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 N.Y.S. 924, 34 N.Y. St. Rep. 175, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/staples-v-nott-nysupct-1890.