Borden, Inc. v. Barker

Quillian, Judge.

The sole question here presented is whether, under the circumstances above related, the plaintiffs’ acceptance and cashing the checks tendered to them over the course of some 4% years constituted an accord and satisfaction as to the amount due the plaintiffs. In our consideration of this case, recognition is given to the rule set out in Rivers v. Cole Corp., 209 Ga. 406, 408 (73 SE2d 196): "When a creditor receives and retains a sum of money from his debtor less than the amount actually due him with the understanding, either express or implied, that it is received by him in satisfaction of his claim or demand, he cannot thereafter treat it as a nullity and recover the balance, and this is so whether his claim or demand be disputed or undisputed, liquidated or unliquidated. . .” See American Associated Companies v. Vaughan, 213 Ga. 119 (97 SE2d 144). Code § 20-1201 recites: "Accord and satisfaction is where the parties, by a subsequent agreement, have satisfied the former one, and the latter agreement has been executed.” "To be good, the accord must be fully executed.” Taylor v. Central of Ga. R. Co., 99 Ga. App. 224, 226 (108 SE2d 103). Thus, as pointed out in the Taylor case, an executory promise to accept a stated amount in satisfaction of a debt does not become binding until such amount, under the terms of such agreement, is paid and accepted.

The contract in question placed the burden on the company to make full settlement for each calendar month on or before the 10th day of the following month. It does not recite that the parties agree that a full settlement shall then be accomplished. The provision is clearly for the benefit of the producer to insure that payments be made promptly to such producer for all amounts delivered. The language alone is not enough to establish conclusively that payments made to and accepted by the producer would constitute a bar as to each pay period. That being true, we have to consider the further point of whether the so-called "milk settlement” and checks sent with such settlement, along with the information contained thereon and the course of dealing between the parties would amount to an accord and satisfaction. The defendant in this case asked for a summary judgment in toto and may not prevail unless he negates any and every right of plaintiffs to recovery. As to the period from September 1964 to March 1966, we have no showing as to the form of the settlement statement other than that recited in the affidavit of the defendant’s agent. While the affiant states at least a part of what was contained therein, he did not affirm that this was the entire contents of the settlement statement used during that period. As pointed out in Mitchell v. Asbury, 94 Ga. App. 465, 466 (95 SE2d 341), a qualifying statement such as "Subject to correction of any errors or omissions” would have a vital effect in consideration of whether an accord and satisfaction resulted. There being nothing to conclusively establish that the plaintiffs could not recover for the period from September 1964 to March 1966, the trial judge did not err in denying the motion for summary judgment.

Judgment affiimed.

Evans, J., concurs. Jordan, P. J,, concurs specially.