Opinion ID: 1677477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Trial court erred in granting summary judgment for Hieb and Bank.

Text: Tucek may take comfort in this state law: One who willfully deceives another with intent to induce her to alter her position to her injury or risk is liable for damages. SDCL 20-10-1. She may also rely upon SDCL 20-10-2(2) and (3). Said sections define deceit as the assertion, as a fact, of that which is not true, by one who has no reasonable ground for believing it to be true or the suppression of a fact by one who is bound to disclose it, or who gives information of other facts which are likely to mislead for want of communication of fact[.] For a similar definition of fraud, see SDCL 53-4-5. Questions of fraud and deceit are generally questions of fact and are to be determined, ordinarily, by a jury. Commercial Credit Equipment Corp. v. Johnson, 87 S.D. 411, 209 N.W.2d 548 (1973). As a Notary Public, acting in a capacity for the Bank, Hieb authenticated a document which highly damaged Tucek. He affixed a Notary Public seal along with his signature expressing Tucek personally appeared before him. She did not. Under South Dakota law, this was a criminal act. SDCL 18-1-11. Her injury was further augmented when Kinonen approached Hieb about the claim that the signature was a forgery. Hieb's response confirming the signature's authenticity directly aided Mueller's dishonesty. Hieb committed a criminal act and then lied to cover his deed, thereby ratifying Mueller's fraud. 37 C.J.S. Fraud § 61 (1943). Every participant in a fraud and each one who assists another in the perpetration of the fraud is liable to the injured party. People ex rel. Hartigan v. E & E Hauling, 153 Ill.2d 473, 180 Ill.Dec. 271, 607 N.E.2d 165 (1992); Kaas v. Privette, 12 Wash.App. 142, 529 P.2d 23 (1974); 37 Am.Jur.2d Fraud and Deceit § 305 (1968). A notary public is responsible to all persons who have been defrauded of their money as a consequence of improper execution of his official notary duties. Summers Bros., Inc. v. Brewer, 420 So.2d 197, 204 (La.App.1982). As Mueller defrauded his own daughter, it is up to a jury to determine if Hieb's misinformation constituted or assisted that fraud. O'Connor, 479 N.W.2d at 164. When Hieb notarized this document, he knew that Tucek had recently been injured in an accident leaving her in a coma. He was also cognizant of Mueller's cash flow problems, including unpaid loans to the Bank. Although irrelevant to Tucek's policy, Bank relayed this information highlighting Tucek's father's economic dire straits to the adjuster. Hieb's actions directly assisted Mueller in obtaining the proceeds of the settlement and in using these proceeds to pay off a delinquent loan to the Bank. When Tucek opened a checking account with the insurance proceeds, she claims she did not open a joint account. Only her name was imprinted on the checks. Nevertheless, Mueller's name appeared on the account in the bank records. Bank accepted numerous counter checks signed by Mueller in varying amounts, including $7,400.00 and $2,000.00. Allegedly, Mueller paid off his loans to the Bank with these funds. Genuine issues of material fact appear to exist as to Hieb's and Bank's participation in Mueller's fraud and deceit. It is clear that Mueller needed Hieb and the Bank in order to obtain and maintain access to the settlement. Hieb testified he was acting within the scope of the Bank's employment when he provided notarial services. Summary judgment cannot be upheld for either Hieb or the Bank.