Case Name: JOHNSON BROTHERS WHOLESALE LIQUOR COMPANY v. OTTO'S LIQUOR, INC., AND OTHERS. LILLIAN OTTO, RESPONDENT
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1972-02-11
Citations: 292 Minn. 481
Docket Number: No. 43180
Parties: JOHNSON BROTHERS WHOLESALE LIQUOR COMPANY v. OTTO’S LIQUOR, INC., AND OTHERS. LILLIAN OTTO, RESPONDENT.
Judges: Heard before Knutson, C. J., and Otis, Peterson, Todd, and Mason, JJ.
Reporter: Minnesota Reports
Volume: 292
Pages: 481–481

Head Matter:
JOHNSON BROTHERS WHOLESALE LIQUOR COMPANY v. OTTO’S LIQUOR, INC., AND OTHERS. LILLIAN OTTO, RESPONDENT.
194 N. W. 2d 592.
February 11, 1972
No. 43180.
Shanedling, Phillips, Gross & Aaron and Felix M. Phillips, for appellant.
Heard before Knutson, C. J., and Otis, Peterson, Todd, and Mason, JJ.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Defendant-respondent, Mrs. Lillian Otto, is the wife of Mr. A1 Otto who for many years operated as a corporate entity defendant Otto's Liquor, Inc. Upon Mr. Otto's death, plaintiff-appellant, a wholesale dealer in liquor, through one of its officers inquired whether Mrs. Otto was to continue the business or sell it. Mrs. Otto, then the president of the corporate entity, indicated an intention to continue operating the business. Plaintiff then requested of her "a guaranty of the corporation." A purported form of guaranty was submitted to her; she signed the document in a space in the upper right-hand corner of the document reserved to identify the customer. Credit was extended to the corporation and this suit for the unpaid balance resulted.
The trial court concluded that the request for "a guaranty of the corporation" was not a request for the personal guaranty of Mrs. Otto and dismissed the action as to her.
There is insufficient evidence to support the trial court's conclusion as no purpose would be served by a corporation guaranteeing its own debts. Accordingly, the judgment of dismissal is set aside and the case remanded for a new trial on all issues.
Reversed and remanded.