Van Norden v. Buckley

5 Cal. 283, 1855 Cal. LEXIS 111

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: July 1, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

Heydenfeldt, J., delivered the opinion of the Court.

Murray, C. J. concurred.

Suit against makers and endorsers of a note. The endorsers rely upon want of demand and notice. This defense is replied to With the assertion that the maker placed in the endorsers’ hands property which they sold and turned into money.

The facts, as found by the special verdict of the jury, are—

1. That the maker was indebted to the endorsers in various sums, and the latter were also their accommodation endorsers on this note.

2. The maker turned over property to the endorsers as general security, without any direction as to the application of the proceeds.

3. The property was insufficient in value to pay the debts including this note.

4. There was no demand upon the maker, and no notice of nonpayment to the endorsers.

Where payment by the maker to the endorser is relied upon as an excuse for want of demand and notice, it must be a payment directly and specifically for the note, and not as security for all transactions in the aggregate. The makers, in this case, did not specify that the payment to the endorsers was to meet this particular note, and it therefore results that the endorsers had a right to apply the fund to any indebtedness they held against the maker, and further, to stand upon their strict legal rights as to demand and notice in regard to the note in, suit.

It follows from this view, that the judgment is erroneous, and musft be reversed.