Alamance Builders, Inc. v. Central Carolina Bank & Trust Co.

262 S.E.2d 338 (1980)

ALAMANCE BUILDERS, INC., Appellant,
v.
CENTRAL CAROLINA BANK & TRUST COMPANY, Appellee,
v.
Glenn W. SLAUGHTER and wife, Doris Slaughter, not appealing.

No. 7915SC510.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

February 5, 1980.

Osteen, Adams & Tilley by J. Patrick Adams, Greensboro, for appellant.

Stubbs, Cole, Breedlove & Prentis by Richard F. Prentis, Jr., Durham, for appellee Central Carolina Bank & Trust Co.

WEBB, Judge.

This appeal brings to the Court a question as to the amount of the indebtedness of Central Carolina Bank and Trust Company to the plaintiff. Plaintiff contends it is in the amount of $12,000.00. The bank contends it is indebted to the plaintiff in the amount of $5,284.63. The answer turns on what interest the plaintiff had in the check. At the outset, we note that when Vance Thompson endorsed and delivered the check, plaintiff and Glenn W. Slaughter had all the rights of payees on the check. See G.S. 25-3-202. Prior to the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code, a bank which paid a check without the endorsement of a payee was liable to the payee in the amount of his interest in the check. Construction Co. v. Trust Co., 266 N.C. 648, 147 S.E.2d 37 (1966) held that the payment by a bank of such a check amounts to the conversion of the payee's interest in the check. The Court in that case said, "[p]rima facie, this is the face value of the paper converted." G.S. 25-3-419 provides:

(1) An instrument is converted when

* * * * * *

(c) it is paid on a forged endorsement.

(2) In an action against a drawee under subsection (1) the measure of the drawee's liability is the face amount of the instrument. In any other action under subsection (1) the measure of liability is presumed to be the face amount of the instrument.

Whether this section of the Uniform Commercial Code applies to situation where there is payment without the endorsement of a payee has not been determined in this state. In some states it has been held that under this section a bank is liable for the conversion of a check when it pays the check on the endorsement of less than all the payees, reasoning that this is tantamount to paying it on a forged endorsement. See 47 A.L.R. 3d 537 (1973) for cases from other jurisdictions. Under our prior law or if we hold this section of the Code includes payment by a bank without the endorsement of all payees, the plaintiff is entitled to recover an amount equal to its interest in the check. If the endorsement by less than all the payees is held to be a forgery under the Uniform Commercial Code, defendant's liability is presumed to be the face amount of the check under G.S. 25-3-419(2). There is language in Construction Co., supra, that prior to the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code the liability of defendant is prima facie the face value of the check.

We believe this case can be determined without reaching the question as to whether the prima facie rule stated in Construction Co. or the presumption of G.S. 25-3-419(2) governs. The court found as a fact that Glenn W. Slaughter represented to plaintiff that he would give the entire proceeds of the check to plaintiff. The plaintiff was to take the check in partial payment for a debt. This was good consideration. See G.S. 25-3-303(b). Under this finding of fact by the court, it is not necessary to rely on the prima facie rule of Construction Co. or the presumption of G.S. 25-3-419(2). When Glenn W. Slaughter came in possession of the check, he was under a legal duty to deliver it to the plaintiff. This gave plaintiff an interest in the entire check and it was entitled to judgment accordingly. We vacate the judgment and direct the superior court to enter a judgment conforming to this opinion.

Judgment vacated and case remanded.

VAUGHN, J., concurs.

HARRY C. MARTIN, J., concurs in the result.

HARRY C. MARTIN, Judge, concurring:

I concur in the result reached by the majority. I find the transaction is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code. By paying the check without the endorsement of plaintiff, defendant bank tortiously converted the check and plaintiff is entitled to recover its value. Construction Co. v. Trust Co., 266 N.C. 648, 147 S.E.2d 37 (1966). Under N.C.G.S. 25-3-419(2), the measure of liability where a non-drawee bank tortiously converts a check is presumed to be the face amount of the instrument. This portion of the Uniform Commercial Code is a codification of the law in North Carolina prior to the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code. With respect to the measure of damages, it is stated in Construction Co.: "Prima facie, this is the face value of the paper converted." 266 N.C. at 653, 147 S.E.2d at 41. Therefore, I find that under the law both before the adoption of the Uniform Commercial Code and thereafter, plaintiff had a presumption in its favor that it was entitled to recover as damages the face amount of the check. Defendant bank has failed to rebut this presumption.