Court Opinion

ID: 5806964
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-12 18:39:12.558146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:42:44.743866
License: Public Domain

Markewich, J. (dissenting).
This case presents what is, to say the least, a bizarre situation. The administrator of plaintiff pension fund drew two certified checks for $100,000 each to the order of defendant Totowa Savings and Loan Association on the fund’s account with defendant Chase Manhattan Bank; the purpose of the checks was purchase by the fund of two certificates of deposit from Totowa, and the familiar symbol "CD” appeared accordingly on each check. In some unexplained way, the checks were entrusted to a messenger who had been convicted of crime to complete the transaction, and he carried the checks to Totowa’s president, to whom he made the unusual request that one certificate be issued to the fund, and the other to a company called Playmate, represented by him to be connected with the fund. The president sought the advice of a fellow official, who warned him against use of the described check for a purpose other than purchase of a certificate in the fund’s name. The president suggested use of a "bank check” instead as a means of carrying out the suggested substitution. At this juncture, then, Totowa knew from the face of the checks whose funds were represented by *186them and. that that money was being paid to the payee for the specific purpose of acquisition by the fund of certificates of deposit. It was then after hours, so the checks were left for safekeeping overnight.
On the following day, the person who had brought the checks to Totowa returned and was given one of the two certified checks, unindorsed. That check was brought to Chase by a person representing himself as a Totowa messenger, who requested exchange of the unindorsed check for an official check of Chase to the original payee. The check so presented to Chase was noted: "Not used for purpose intended” and "used for official check”, and the latter was issued as requested, payable to Totowa. Appropriate debits and credits were placed on the fund’s records with Chase. All this was done without further inquiry of either drawer or payee of the check. The official check was then transported to Totowa, which still knew all that was known on the previous visit. However, acting upon the oral representation as to Playmate’s relation with the fund, and without further inquiry, Totowa opened an account in Playmate’s name for the amount of the check, and then issued two loans—never repaid—security for which was the account, for a sum representing a total of 90% of the balance therein.
On plaintiff fund’s suit against both institutions for recovery of $100,000, Special Term granted the fund’s motion for summary judgment against Chase and denied Chase’s cross motion to dismiss or alternatively judgment over against Totowa. We would reverse and grant the cross motion to the extent of dismissing plaintiffs complaint against Chase. This is not to say that Chase was not negligent in substituting its official bank check in exchange for the return of the unindorsed certified check without making any inquiry beyond what was said by the "Totowa messenger.” But that negligent act was not the proximate cause of damage to plaintiff; indeed, even though that negligent act had occurred, the funds represented now by the official check actually reached the intended payee, Totowa, and the drawer of the check, the fund, was not thereby damaged. The funds represented both by the certified check and the official check substituted therefor were received by named payee (Totowa) and became part of its corporate funds. (Compare Gotham-Vladimir Adv. v First Nat. City Bank, 27 AD2d 190, 194.) Plaintiff, recognizing the Gotham-Vladimir teaching, counters by the suggestion that it must be *187shown that the funds were not alone received by the designated payee, but also used for the intended purpose (Hillsley v State Bank, 24 AD2d 28). But Hillsley involved a payee whose indorsement on a check was forged by his copayee, and who innocently received the proceeds of negotiation of the forged instrument in payment of an unrelated debt owed by the copayee; the named payee had indeed received the proceeds of the check, but he was unaware of the source, and the bank was held liable for paying on the forged instrument to the damage of the injured payee. Here, Totowa, with full knowledge of the purpose of payment to it, and being placed on notice—even by its own facilitating suggestion—of diversion from the purpose, made conversion possible by negligent omission to inquire of the check’s drawer. (See Munn v Boasberg, 292 NY 5.) Reversal is indicated.
Nunez, J., concurs with Capozzoli, J.; Kupferman, J., concurs in an opinion; Stevens, P. J., and Markewich, J., dissent in an opinion by Markewich, J.
Order and judgment, Supreme Court, New York County entered on January 27, 1976, and February 25, 1976, respectively, affirmed. Plaintiff-respondent and defendant-respondent shall recover of appellant one bill of $60 costs and disbursements of this appeal.