Blair v. McQuary

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Dawson, J.:

The plaintiff, Hugh Blair, owner and holder of an ordinary promissory note for $250, brought this action to recover thereon against O. H. McQuary, jr., the maker, and against J. W. Junkins & Son, the payees and indorsers. It was indorsed thus:

“Waiving presentment, protest and notice.

“J'. W. Junkins & Son,

“J. W. Junkins.”

The district court sustained a demurrer to the answer of Junkins & Son and gave judgment on the pleadings. Junkins & Son appeal. Their answer in substance alleged that they had furnished McQuary certain materials of the value of $280 used in the improvement of his property; that Blair and McQuary conspired to cheat them out of their claim and of their right to a materialman’s lien; and, to effect that, Blair and McQuary represented to them that McQuary was prosperous in his business and financially responsible; that Blair would give them $250 for McQuary’s note made payable to Blair for their claim against him, and that in reliance thereon they were induced to let the time lapse in which they might have filed their lien; that the note by mistake was made payable to Junkins & Son instead of to Blair as agreed upon, but that the latter had represented to them that they would not be liable personally if they indorsed it.

The latter part of the indorsers’ defense is insufficient and the ruling of the district court thereon was correct. The indorsers knew of the mistake in the name of the payee before they indorsed the note. That indorsement and their transfer of the note to Blair and their acceptance of $250 from Blair therefor were an unqualified waiver and ratification of the mistake. (Tucker v. Allen, 16 Kan. 312; 2 Cyc. 171.) It would disturb fundamental principles of the law of negotiable instruments to permit oral evidence to vary the terms of a written instrument and the written indorsement thereof. (Doolittle v. Ferry, 20 Kan. 230; Stevens v. Inch, 98 Kan. 306, 308, 158 Pac. 43.) Nor could Junkins & Son avoid their liability as indorsers by reason of the plaintiff’s representations as to the legal effect of their indorsement. The law is not stayed nor swayed because the blind lead the blind into mistaken notions of it. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat.

But what about that phase of the answer which alleged the conspiracy between plaintiff and the maker of the note to induce Junkins & Son to forego their lien on McQuary’s property? ' .

On demurrer an answer is to be interpreted liberally, and however crude its recitals — the action having originated before a justice of the peace — the outstanding features of a cause of action or defense — fraud and consequent damage — were pleaded. The plaintiff and McQuary conspired to cheat Jun-kins & Son out of their right to a lien on McQuary’s property. To that effect they invoked falsehood and deceit as to Mc-Quary’s financial responsibility. They accomplished their design. Instead of having a lien worth $280 or $250 in cash, if plaintiff prevails, Junkins & Son will have nothing to show for the materials furnished by them but a bill of court costs. This can not be the law. Actions for fraud and deceit in the procurement of credit for insolvent persons are common. (Work Bros. & Co. v. McCoy, 87 Iowa, 217, 224, 225; Patten & Al. v. Gurney & Al., 17 Mass. 182; Percival v. Harres, 142 Pa. St. 369.) The ordinary rules and precedents touching the waiver of liens are not pertinent. Junkins & Son had no intention to waive their lien. They were offered $250 in cash in lieu of the lien. This was offered by plaintiff and McQuary. They accepted. Now plaintiff calls on them to return this $250, and to that end exhibits an instrument in writing so precise and legally unimpeachable in its terms that the courts must respect and enforce it. But the law of set-offs is just as potent, and the fraud and consequent damage suffered by Junkins & Son through the conspiracy of plaintiff and their codefendant, McQuary, is a proper set-off to be taken into account against plaintiff’s demand “so far as they equal each other.” (Civ. Code, § 102.)

Filed April 7, 1917.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded with instructions to permit issues to be joined on the allegations of fraud and consequent damage pleaded as a set-off to plaintiff’s cause of action, and for further proceedings consistent therewith.