Wood v. Tynan

7 N.W.2d 628, 142 Neb. 671, 1943 Neb. LEXIS 8
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 6, 1943
DocketNo. 31484
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 7 N.W.2d 628 (Wood v. Tynan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wood v. Tynan, 7 N.W.2d 628, 142 Neb. 671, 1943 Neb. LEXIS 8 (Neb. 1943).

Opinion

Eberly, J.

This is an action upon a negotiable promissory note in writing presented as a claim against the estate of Robert A. Tynan, deceased. From the judgment entered in the county court of Richardson county, an appeal was taken to the district court for that county wherein issues were joined by formal pleadings.

Claimant’s petition sets forth a cause of action upon a promissory note dated March 16, 1939. A copy of the instrument sued on is made a part of the petition. J. F. Weddle, Effie M. Weddle, and R. A. Tynan appear thereon as makers of this note, which plaintiff alleges was made, executed and delivered, and by the terms whereof each of the makers “as principals, promise to pay to the order of Jennie Wood * * * Five Thousand and no/100 dollars,” etc.; for which amount with interest as stated therein claimant prays judgment.

To this petition Della H. Tynan, Robert A. Tynan, Catherine T. Nutter, and Eugene H. Tynan, contestants and appellants herein, as representatives of Robert A. Tynan, deceased, for their answer to the petition on appeal of Jennie Wood, claimant and appellee herein, “deny each and every statement, allegation and averment in said petition. contained, except they admit the execution of said note.”

The contestants further allege: “That on March 2, 1925, J. F. Weddle, Effie M. Weddle, and R. A. Tynan gave Jennie G. Wood their certain promissory note for the principal sum of $6,000, a copy of which is hereto attached, marked exhibit ‘A,’ and made a part hereof; that the time of payment of the debt represented by said noté was from time to time extended, but it was at all times the same debt.” And further, “That said R. A. Tynan received no benefit or consideration directly or indirectly by way of any such transactions.” Also, “That such original note and any extensions thereof, as were signed by said R. A. Tynan, were [673]*673signed by him as surety only.” It was also alleged by these contestants that such note was secured by a real estate mortgage, and a copy of such mortgage is attached to contestants’ answer. Further, “That on March 16, 1935, said J. F. Weddle and Effie M. Weddle, his wife, conveyed said mortgaged premises to said Jennie G. Wood in payment of said debt.” Such answer concludes with the allegation, “That said note is outlawed, has been paid, is without consideration, and said R. A. Tynan (deceased) at the time of his death was not indebted to said Jennie Wood.”

Claimant filed a reply consisting- of a general denial.

On these pleadings there was a trial to a jury, at the conclusion of which, on motion of Jennie G. Wood, the court directed the jury to return a verdict for claimant in the sum of $5,710 with interest at 5 per cent, from date, and such verdict was returned, and judgment was entered thereon. From the order of the trial court overruling- their motion for a new trial, the contestants appeal.

It thus appears that the defenses relied upon by contestants are, substantially, two: (1) Want of consideration; (2) payment.

The instrument in suit is a negotiable promissory note. By statute, “Every negotiable instrument is deemed prima facie to have been issued for a valuable consideration; and every person whose signature appears thereon to have become a party thereto for value.” Comp. St. 1929, sec. 62-201.

“Value,” as that term is here employed, is defined by statute as “any consideration sufficient to support a simple contract. An antecedent or. preexisting debt constitutes value; and is deemed such whether the instrument is payable on demand or at a future time.” Comp. St. 1929, sec. 62-202.

“Usually, there is a sufficient consideration if there is any benefit, profit, or advantage to the promisor, or any loss, detriment, or inconvenience to the promisee.” 10 C. J. S. 601, sec. 148.

See, also, Craver v. McPherson, 106 Neb. 568, 184 N. W. [674]*67471; United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Curry, 126 Neb. 705, 254 N. W. 430; Crawford State Bank v. McEwen, 132 Neb. 399, 272 N. W. 226.

It appears uncontradicted in the record that at the time of the note and mortgage transaction of 1925, R A. Tynan was a banker (on which fact Jennie G. Wood relied), who assisted her not only in the initial transaction but in subsequent extensions and renewals of the promissory note thus delivered. It cannot be gainsaid that at the time of the making of this first note on March 2, 1925, Jennie G. Wood drew her check for $6,000 which amount Weddle testifies was applied on his indebtedness then existing. The necessary implication which arises from the circumstances disclosed by the evidence is that the business necessary to effect this credit of $6,000 on the indebtedness of J. F. Weddle was transacted by R. A. Tynan after the $6,000 check had been delivered by Jennie G. Wood. It is to be noted that expressly referring to the note of March 2, 1925, contestants’ answer admits the “execution of said note.” As that term, “execution,” is employed in contestants' pleading, it is properly defined as follows; “By ‘execution’ is meant both the signing and the delivery of the bill or the note. The mere signing does not constitute ‘execution.’ ” 8 C. J. 43.

In the light of the uncontradicted facts, it is clear, assuming that Tynan executed the first original note of $6,-000 as surety only, that the contemporaneous receipt of the benefit of the $6,000 check by J. F. Weddle afforded ample consideration to support his liability. There is no evidence that Tynan signed this original obligation after it had been delivered or after the $6,000 check had been received by the party entitled thereto. Even on the basis of fact as contended for by contestants, the applicable rule would be:

“Generally, the undertaking of a person signing, or becoming a party to, a negotiable instrument after its execution and delivery must be supported by some new or additional consideration, as the original consideration for the instrument is insufficient to sustain such an undertaking. [675]*675This rule applies, however, only when the transaction of which the bill or note forms a part has been completely executed or consummated prior to the addition of the new signature. The subsequent signature is regarded as being-made at the same time as the note, so as to constitute a part of the same transaction, and be supported by the same consideration, where it is added pursuant to a prior agreement between the maker and payee which has been relied on by the latter, even though the person subsequently adding- his signature does not know the terms of the principal contract.” 10 C. J. S. 600, sec. 145.

The unexplained fact that the real estate mortgage bears date (Saturday) February 28, 1925, and the note issued thereon having been dated (Monday) March 2, 1925, affords no logical basis for the conclusion that R. A. Tynan signed the note after delivery on March 2, 1925. It also follows that subsequent renewals of this instrument would be supported by the consideration actually received for the note of March 2, 1925, and would not be vulnerable to the defense here attempted.

The form of the issues tendered by the answer of contestants suggests that contestants are precluded from relying- upon the nonliability of Robert A. Tynan as a party to the original $6,000 note. For, not only did the contestants claim that Tynan was not originally legally bound by this note, but, in adddition, complete payment thereof was pleaded by them.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
7 N.W.2d 628, 142 Neb. 671, 1943 Neb. LEXIS 8, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wood-v-tynan-neb-1943.