Mutual National Bank v. Richardson , 33 La. Ann. 1312 ( 1881 )

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Bermudez, C. J.

The plaintiff seeks to hold J. P. Richardson, as a member of the Arm of Richardson & Cary, liable for two notes, endorsed by G. W. Cary, the other member, in the name of the firm. Cary confessed judgment, but Richardson resists, on the ground that the endorsements were made by Cary, for his personal use, fraudulently, to plaintiff’s knowledge.

On the trial, the notes sued upon were offered to be introduced in evidence; but the defendant objected, unless the endorsements were first proved to be genuine. The objection was sustained, the proof was administered and the notes with the endorsements were introduced in evidence.

Thereupon the plaintiff’s counsel moved the court for judgment against Richardson, in furtherance of the provisions of Art. 326, C. P.; but the court declined so to do, on the ground that the law did not. apply to a member of a firm, denying the firm’s signature, executed by another member of the firm. To this ruling the plaintiff excepted, and' the trial of the case was proceeded with.

There was judgment for the plaintiff, and Jno. P. Richardson has appealed.

The article invoked reads:

“ The defendant, whose signature shall have been proved, after his having denied the same, shall be barred from every other defense, and judgment shall be given against him, without further proceedings.” C. P. 326.

In 29 An. 546, construing that article, with the preceding ones, the Court held that it could receive application in those cases, only, in which the defendant was sued on his personal signature, and, being punitory in its character, it could not be extended, by implication or analogy, to cases not clearly within its terms. The view expressed was declared to be in harmony with Art. 2244 R. C. C., which authorizes heirs or assigns simply to declare that they know not the handwriting or signature of the person they represent, and the ruling in 1 An. 325 is cited in support.

But for those textual provisions of our Codes, and for the judicial exposition made of them, the allegorical saying, that a firm has as many right hands to sign with as it has members who compose it, might receive application ; but, in presence of the law and of .the jurisprudence upon it, it remains, in this instance, without bearing. The ruling of the lower court on the motion, being correct, receives our sanction.

The evidence in the record establishes that, on the 11th of June, 1879, the individual note of G. W. Cary, for ten thousand dollars ($10,-000), at sixty days, secured by the pledge of a note of Richardson & Cary, dated May 7th, 1879, to the order of and endorsed by Mrs. M. V. Cary, payable on January 1st, 1880, for $10,537.78, was discounted by the plaintiff and the proceeds placed by the bank to his credit, in his individual account.

That first note was not paid at maturity, but a few days afterwards a partial payment was made by Cary, in cash. He then offered for discount, to the bank, four notes, which were accepted, and the proceeds realized by the discount, without passing through Cary’s hands at all, were applied to the extinguishment of the amount remaining due on the $10,000 note, which was then, with the collateral, delivered up to him.

Two of the four notes were subsequently paid by Cary, but the two remaining ones, not having been taken up, are now sued upon. That for $2,871 is drawn by W. A. & C. W. Cary, and that for $871 is drawn by Leigh Watkins, to the order of and endorsed by Richardson & Cary, through G. W. Cary. Proper evidence of non-payment, protest and notice, is in the record. No resistance is made owing to the want of any formality in those proceedings.

We do not attach, any importance to the surrounding circumstances under which the original transaction occurred between Cary and the-bank’s vice-president, whose respectability, entire good faith and reliability are far above all suspicion. It is sufficient that the fact exists, to plaintiff’s knowledge, that the partnership signature and property, apparently belonging to it, were used by Cary for the purpose of redeeming his individual note, and for his individual advantage, to debar recovery against J. P. Richardson, who is not shown to have either known or authorized the unusual and fraudulent course pursued by Cary, to the injury of the plaintiff.

An attempt was made to connect the transaction with a purchase of exchange for $15,000 for and by Richardson & Cary; but the two operations were essentially distinct and were not equally known to the two partners. That of Cary was not known at all to Richardson, although that by Richardson, who bought the exchange, may have been, and no doubt was, to Cary’s knowledge.

Evidence was adduced that the exchange operation was conducted and carried on by the firm in the regular course of its business and for its legitimate purposes. That transaction, from whatever standpoint considered, cannot be viewed as, in any manner, susceptible of relieving the plaintiff from the consequences flowing from a knowledge of the circumstances of the several negotiations with Cary. . '

The authorities are numerous and indisputable, that a partner cannot use the name of the Arm as security for the debts or liabilities of a third person, or of himself, without special authority from all those composing the firm. A party receiving the same under those circumstances, although, not chargeable with actual mala fides, does so at his risk and peril, and cannot hold the firm and its other members respon- > sible, unless upon proof of knowledge, consent or ratification.

A partner, it is true, may, as far as the question of physical power may go, but not as far as that of moral right may exist, take the money of the firm, and by a reprehensible appropriation, apply it to the discharge of his personal obligations; but this is so for the sole reason that, as money has no ear-marks, creditors who are offered to be paid, are not bound to inquire into the title of the debtor proposing payment. In some instances it might be derogatory or insulting, and in other cases it might be imprudent to do so. Pothier on Partnership, § 101; 40 Dalloz, J. G. Société, No. 927; Debarride, Droit Com. des Sociétés, No. 159.

“ If a creditor of one of the two partners choose to take from his debtor what he knows to be partnership securites, or partnership funds, without ascertaining whether the debtor has the authority of his partner as to the application of partnership funds, he does so at his own peril, and it is not enough that he has even a reasonable cause to believe in the existence of the authority.” Kendall vs. Wood, Law R. VI, Ex. 243; Leveson vs. Lane, 13 C. B. R. N. S. 278; Parsons. Also, Maulden vs. Branch Bank, 2 Ala. 502, 512, 513; 18 Wend. 466; 1 Ala. 565; 6 R. 120.

In ex parte Golding (Collyer on Partnership, 283), Lord Lyndhurst said ; “ No principle can be more clear than that, where a partner and a creditor enter into a contract on a separate account, the partner cannot pledge the partnership funds, or give the partnership acceptances in discharge of the contract, so as to bind the firm.” The judgment was put on the ground that, unless the other partner assented to the transaction, he was not bound, and that it was the duty of the creditor to ascertain whether there was such assent or not.

In Dob vs. Halsey, 16 Johns. 34, the difference between English and American jurisprudence was said to be merely on the question of onusr it being there on the partner sought to be held responsible, while it is here on the creditor seeking payment. It was there said that there exists no substantial difference whether the note of a firm be taken for a private debt of one of the partners by a separate creditor of a partner pledging the security of the firm and taking the property of the firm to pay his private debt. “In both cases the act is equally injurious to the other parties. It is taking their common property to pay a private debt of one of the partners.” 7 Wend. 326; 6 Johns. 251.

In Rogers vs. Batchelder, 12 Peters, 221, the U. S. Supreme Court, Justice Story being its organ, said: “Whatever acts are done by any partner in regard to partnership property or contracts, beyond the scope of the partnership, must, in general, to bind the partnership, be derived from some further authority, expressed or implied, conferred on such partner, beyond that resulting from his character as a partner. Such is the general principle, and in our judgmentdt is founded on good sense and reason. One man ought not be permitted to dispose of the property, or bind the rights, of another, unless the latter has authorized the act. In the case of a partner paying his own debt out of the partnership funds, it is manifest thpt it is a violation of his duty and of the right of his partners, unless 'they have assented to it. The act is an illegal conversion of funds.” 13 East. 175; 2 Starkie, 347.

See, also, Daniel on Neg. Inst., p. 273, and cases cited; 10 L. 416; Chitty on Cont., 11 ed. 354; Addison on Cont., 76; Collyer on Part., 283; Collyer on Cont., § 401, 478; Story on Part., Sec. 128, 140; Parsons on Part., 2d. ed. p. 221.

If it be true that operations of the character of that under consideration, are not of Unfrequent occurrence in this commercial community, it is more than time that the law governing in such cases be clearly announced, as well for the security of money lenders, as for that of too reliant partners, and for the denunciation of ill-designed and ill-doing associates, unworthy of the confidence placed in them by their fellow members and their fellow men.

We have carefully considered the points made and the authorities quoted by plaintiffs learned counsel; but, while we concede the respectability and earnestness of those authorities, we cannot admit that, under the circumstances of this case, they .can justify us in fixing upon the defendant, Richardson, the liability for which he is sought to be made ■responsible. The presumptions claimed as existing in favor of the plaintiff are rebutted by the circumstances surrounding the original, main and subsequent negotiations between the parties.

See further, Parsons, Ed. 1873, vol. 1, pp. 184, 221, 228; 2 Miss. 183; 15 Geo. 197; Chitty on Bills, p. 48; 6 B. Monroe, 60; 4 Wendell, 168; Daniels on Neg. Inst., vol. 1, pp. 276, 278; 3 Kent, 63; Collyer on Part., 544, 127, 490, 491; 1 Starkie, 275: 30 Vt. 225; 25 Ala. 475; 12 Pet. 299; 28 An. 941; 10 L. 416; 5 L. 49.

We are unable to concur with our learned brother of the District Court.

It is, therefore, ordered and decreed that the judgment appealed from by J. P. Richardson be reversed as far as it affects him, and it is now ordered, adjudged and decreed that there be judgment in favor of said J. P. Richardson, rejecting plaintiff’s demand, with costs in both courts.

Rehearing refused.

Mr. Justice Fenner recuses himself, having been consulted as counsel.