The Farmerville Bank v. Scheen

76 So. 2d 581, 1954 La. App. LEXIS 964
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 1, 1954
Docket8157
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 76 So. 2d 581 (The Farmerville Bank v. Scheen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The Farmerville Bank v. Scheen, 76 So. 2d 581, 1954 La. App. LEXIS 964 (La. Ct. App. 1954).

Opinion

76 So.2d 581 (1954)

THE FARMERVILLE BANK, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Bernard B. SCHEEN et al., Defendants-Appellees.

No. 8157.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

December 1, 1954.
Rehearing Denied January 4, 1955.

*582 Dhu & Lea S. Thompson, Monroe, for appellant.

Hayes & Harkey, Monroe, for Scheen.

Robert T. Farr, Monroe, for Mingledorff.

AYRES, Judge.

Plaintiff, as the holder and owner of a promissory note executed and signed by defendant, Bernard B. Scheen, March 30, 1953, for $1,182.50, payable to plaintiff in 14 monthly installments of $86.00 each, as shown in an act of chattel mortgage with which it was paraphed and identified, and which note was endorsed by T. D. Mingledorff, brought action and prayed for judgment against the aforesaid maker and endorser, in solido, for the aforesaid sum, less a credit of $58.96 and a further credit of $560 as of July 18, 1953, with 8 percent per annum interest thereon from May 8, 1953, until paid, together with 15 percent additional on principal and interest as attorney's fees, and for costs.

Plaintiff's demands were rejected, and from the judgment rendered plaintiff prosecutes a devolutive appeal.

The facts which gave rise to this action, briefly stated, are that defendant Scheen purchased a Studebaker automobile from Emco, Inc., a corporation whose president and principal stockholder was the defendant, Mingledorff. The purchase price for the automobile was borrowed from plaintiff and as security for which Scheen executed his note, secured by a chattel mortgage on the automobile, and as added security, Mingledorff endorsed the note for the loan which he had arranged with the Bank.

Scheen soon realized he would be unable to make the payments on the note and discussed the indebtedness with his endorser, whereupon, without consulting plaintiff or securing its permission or consent thereto, the maker and endorser determined upona course of requesting plaintiff to repossess the automobile and to sell it at private sale. In accordance therewith, Mingledorff prepared or caused to be prepared by his attorney an instrument, the pertinent part of which reads as follows:

"The undersigned being in default in payments due on said contract, the Bank has repossessed said automobile in accordance with the terms thereof, and has the right to sell it at public auction and recover a deficiency, if any, from the undersigned. In consideration of the sum of One Dollar to undersigned, in hand paid, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, undersigned, in order to eliminate any deficiency, if possible, requests the Bank not to exercise its right to sell at public auction, but to sell said automobile by private negotiation and without posting public notices or advertising said sale, thereby saving the cost and expense of a public sale and, in the judgment of the undersigned, increasing the possibility of obtaining a higher price for said automobile as a result of private negotiation.
"The undersigned, therefore, does hereby waive posting of any notices or advertising the time and place of sale, notice to undersigned of the time, terms and place of said sale, and all other rights he may have concerning the foreclosure of the lein on or sale of said automobile, in order that the Bank may negotiate privately the sale of said automobile. The Bank agrees to pay undersigned any surplus arising from said sale, and the undersigned agrees to pay the Bank any deficiency resulting therefrom",

which was signed in Mingledorff's office by Scheen and left with Mingledorff, who thereafter conducted the negotiations with *583 plaintiff. Scheen parked the automobile in the rear of Mingledorff's office, where he delivered the keys. Pursuant to the agreement and Mingledorff's request of plaintiff, plaintiff sent its representative for the automobile, after which it was driven from its parked location to a private auction in Monroe, where it was sold at a public offering to the highest bidder for a price of $560, which was credited on the note, as hereinabove stated.

Alleging that the mortgaged automobile was sold at private sale and without appraisement, defendant Scheen pleads a discharge from the indebtedness under the Deficiency Judgment Statute, LSA-R.S. 13: 4106 et seq.

Without assigning any particular reasons therefor and without alluding to the aforesaid statute, defendant Mingledorff denied liability and alleged the facts concerning the so-called release of the automobile to be as follows:

"That on July 7, 1953, after it became certain that Bernard B. Scheen either would not or could not make the payments on this note, Bernard B. Scheen came to the office of respondent and after discussing the matter agreed that it would be best for him to release the automobile, securing this note, to plaintiff with the request that plaintiff sell this automobile at private sale to the best advantage for Scheen's use and benefit in order to avoid the cost and expense of a foreclosure on the mortgaged automobile and apply the proceeds to the note for the benefit of Scheen; Scheen would then pay plaintiff any balance that may be owed after this sale; that Scheen told respondent that he was particularly anxious for the matter to be handled in this manner to avoid court action, so that his credit would be protected;
"That Scheen signed such release with the request for private sale and with the promise to pay plaintiff any balance left on the note after the sale;
"That at this time Scheen assured respondent that he would pay in full any balance left on the note after the sale, and keep respondent from having to pay any part of the note;
"That respondent then presented this release and the automobile to plaintiff on behalf of Scheen; that prior to that presentation plaintiff had not asked for such a release, nor did it know that one was being made until it was given to plaintiff by respondent on behalf of Scheen;
"That at the time this release was signed by Scheen respondent believed that Scheen was sincere and honest in his promise to pay plaintiff any balance left on the note after the sale",

which allegations may be stated as a summary of his testimony given on the trial. Mingledorff, however, testified that in a discussion with Scheen as to the latter's inability to pay the note, it was agreed that both would endeavor to dispose of the automobile rather than have it repossessed inasmuch as Scheen desired to protect his credit; but, failing to make a sale, Mingledorff suggested to Scheen that he might return the car to plaintiff with the idea of having it sold at private sale and crediting the indebtedness with the proceeds. Scheen consented to this procedure and Mingledorff had his attorney prepare the instrument referred to hereinabove, and Mingledorff contacted the Bank and made the arrangements for disposition of the car. His testimony further was that he individually did not expect to get any benefit from this transaction but that the car was to be sold for the benefit of the parties that were concerned, and as privately as possible in order that no attorney's costs or fees would be incurred.

Scheen's defense was sustained by the trial court and Mingledorff was held discharged from liability under the provisions of LSA-C.C. Art. 3061, which provides:

"The surety is discharged when by the act of the creditor, the subrogation *584

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Bluebook (online)
76 So. 2d 581, 1954 La. App. LEXIS 964, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-farmerville-bank-v-scheen-lactapp-1954.