Lafayette National Bank v. Eberly

Emery, J.

This is an application by the plaintiff for summary judgment on the pleadings.

The plaintiff alleges the making of a promissory note by the defendant for the sum of $12,500 in favor of Joseph F. Stabell and thereafter discounted by the plaintiff. The answer admits the making and delivery of the note by the defendant. It denies that the plaintiff is the holder for value and that there is anything due to the plaintiff from the defendant. The answer also contains as an affirmative defense that at the time of the making of the note the Stabell Company was indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $100,000 and was in urgent need of additional funds to finance its operations; that the plaintiff was unwilling to extend its credit further unless the Stabell Company should deliver to plaintiff a note made or indorsed by a third party acceptable to the plaintiff; that the note in issue was accordingly given by the defendant and accepted by the plaintiff on the understanding that the defendant would be released from the obligation and not be liable thereon at any time when and after the amount of the indebtedness of the Stabell Company to plaintiff should be paid down to $100,000 or less; that such indebtedness of the Stabell Company to the plaintiff was paid down to or below $100,000. The defendant’s answer demands that he be released and discharged from any and all liability on the note.

I cannot agree with the plaintiff’s contention that the affirmative defense set forth in the defendant’s answer seeks to change or alter the terms of a written instrument. It alleges that the note was made and delivered upon certain' conditions. The annexing of conditions to the delivery is not an oral contradiction of the written obligation as between the parties to it or others having notice even though the instrument be negotiable. Delivery makes the obligation operative and the extent of the operation of the instrument may be limited by the conditions on which delivery is made if rights of third parties, without notice, do not intervene. Smith v. Dotterweich, 200 N. Y. 299.

The answer raises an issue for the trial court.

Motion denied, with ten dollars costs.

Ordered accordingly.