Case Name: GRANNIS v. STEVENS et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1913-07-10
Citations: 142 N.Y.S. 835
Docket Number: 
Parties: GRANNIS v. STEVENS et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 142
Pages: 835–839

Head Matter:
GRANNIS v. STEVENS et al.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
July 10, 1913.)
1. Bills and Notes (§ 519 )—Actions—Evidence.
In an action upon a note, evidence held sufficient to show that it was not intended by the parties that defendants should be bound thereby, or be made to pay.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bills and Notes, Cent. Dig. § 1802;
Dec. Dig. § 519.*]
■ 2. Bills and Notes (§ 452*)—Defenses.
In an action upon a note, the maker may show, as against the payee, that he received no consideration, and that it was understood by the payee that he should not be liable.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bills and Notes, Cent. Dig. §§ 1303,
1352-1364, 1367-1376; Dec.. Dig. § 452.*]
3. Usury (§ 67 )—Actions—Defenses. '
In an action on a note given nominally by defendants, but in reality for money loaned to their brother, who agreed to pay a usurious interest, usury will invalidate the note given.
[Ed. Note.—For other eases, see Usury, Cent. Dig. §§ 140, 141; Dec.
Dig. § 67.*]
McLaughlin, J., dissenting.
Appeal from Trial Term, New York County.
Action by Arthur E. Grannis against John Stevens and another. From a judgment for defendants, and an order denying his motion for new trial, plaintiff appeals. Affirmed.
Argued before INGRAHAM, P. J., and McLAUGHLIN, LAUGH-LIN, CLARICE, and SCOTT, JJ.
Frank L. Crocker, of New York City, for appellant.
' Henry G. Gray, of New York City, for respondents.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep'r Indexes
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
LAUGHLIN, J.
This is an action to recover on a promissory note made by the defendants on the 14th day of April, 1910, whereby they promised to pay to the order of the plaintiff one year from date the sum of $60,000 at the office of Stevens & Co., New York City, with interest at 6 per centum per annum. The defendants pleaded, among other things, that the note was given solely for the accommodation of the plaintiff and without consideration; that it was usurious; that it was fraudulently diverted from the purpose for which it was intended, and that it was understood at the time it was signed that it was a mere matter of form, and they were not to become liable thereon.
The plaintiff had been a member of the New York Stock Exchange, and had been suspended. About the end of May, 1909, before it had been determined whether or not he would obtain reinstatement on the Stock Exchange, he executed and delivered to one W. L. Stevens, a brother of the defendants, a memorandum agreement acknowledging indebtedness to him of $10,000 for money loaned on May 15, 1909, and reciting that, if the plaintiff could obtain reinstatement within two months, it was their desire to enter into partnership, and, if he could not obtain such reinstatement, he would sell his membership in the Stock Exchange and loan the proceeds to Stevens, to be employed "in his stock exchange business on terms to be later agreed upon which will return Mr. Grannis not less than $10,000 a year." The plaintiff did not succeed in obtaining reinstatement to membership in the Stock Exchange.
According to the testimony of W. L. Stevens, the plaintiff, on selling his seat on the Stock Exchange, returned the $10,000 he had borrowed, and said that he would not put the balance into Stevens' firm, which was then composed of one Henry Coolidge and himself, while Coolidge was a member thereof, and they succeeded in finding one' Henning, who was a member of the Stock Exchange, to join the firm in place of Coolidge. The organization of the new firm was evidently contemplated at the time of the execution of the note, for the evidence shows that it was formed the next day, and was composed of W. L. Stevens and Henning. The defendants were in the employ of their brother's firm at salaries of $15 per week, and had no interest in the firm.
The uncontroverted evidence is that they had no negotiations with the plaintiff with respect to the making of this note, and that the loan was not made to them, but to their brother, the check therefor for $60,000 having been drawn the day before and delivered to their brother's attorney, who, after the execution of the note, drew his check to their brother for the amount. The preponderance of the evidence also shows that after this loan had been negotiated between the plaintiff and defendants' brother on an understanding precisely the same as that contemplated by said memorandum agreement, namely, that plaintiff was not to become a member of the firm, but was to receive $10,000 per annum for the use of his money, the defendants were summoned to the main office of their brother's firm, and were requested to sign this note, which had already been prepared, and to take their brother's note for a like amount for the purpose of securing their brother's firm against adverse action by the Stock Exchange which it " was anticipated would likely be taken under the rules of the Stock Exchange if it became known that the plaintiff, a suspended member of the Exchange, had loaned the money to the defendants' brother's firm, one member- of which was a member of the Exchange, and that in the presence of the plaintiff it was stated to them by their brother or his attorney that their signing the note was a mere matter of form, and that they would not incur any liability thereby. The evidence further shows that the note was retained in the possession of the attorney for the defendants' brother for between five and eight months, and was not delivered to the plaintiff until the defendants' brother failed to make payments in accordance with the contract between him and the plaintiff, and that ten days after the money was loaned the plaintiff and the defendants' brother made a formal agreement to the effect that the excess of the $10,000, which plaintiff was to receive per annum for the use of his money according to the agreement between him and W. L. Stevens at the time the note was made, over and above the legal rate of interest, viz., $533 per month, should be deemed salary; but the evidence shows that the plaintiff never performed any services for the defendants' brother's firm, and that it was not intended that he should, and although he was permitted to draw on the firm, and received $10,000 per annum or more, his drafts were charged to the defendants' brother's account.
At the close of the evidence both parties moved for a direction of a verdict, and thus the facts were submitted to the court. It is perfectly plain, I think, from the evidence that this loan was not made to the defendants, but to their brother, and that the transaction took the form it did merely to prevent suspension of the defendants' brother's firm by the New York Stock Exchange. The delivery of the note as a valid obligation of the defendants was neither authorized . nor contemplated. The case fairly falls within the rule that it may be shown by the maker of a promissory note, who has received no consideration therefor, as against the payee, that it was understood that he was not to be liable thereon. Higgins v. Ridgway, 153 N. Y. 130, 47 N. E. 32. Moreover, if the defendants had authorized the delivery of the note and gave it for the purpose of enabling their brother to obtain the loan, it would be tainted with the usurious contract made between the plaintiff and their brother upon which it was based.
It follows that the judgment and order should be affirmed, with costs.
INGRAHAM, P. J" and CLARKE and SCOTT, JJ., concur.