Court Opinion

ID: 6728156
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:07:13.493914+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:37.112079
License: Public Domain

LEVINE, P. J.
This action arose in the Cuyahoga Common Pleas to recover payment on a promissory note. On Oct. 12, 1923, the United States Metal Goods Co. executed to the Cleveland Trust Co. a promissory note in the amount of $19,000, signed by the Metal Goods Co., by Abe Bloch, Pres, and by Ike Bloch, Sec. & Treas., defendants in this action. Abe Bloch deposited as collateral 549 shares of stock.
This note was not paid at maturity, and a renewal note in amount of $24,000 was executed by the said Company and by Abe Bloch. Ike Bloch at the time of such renewal was not in the city.
Lulu Bloch, plaintiff, in this action, guaranteed payment of this new note and deposited certain securities as collateral. The original securities were returned to Abe Bloch. The Bank held the old note until such time as Ike Bloch would endorse the renewal note. This the said Ike Bloch refused to do, and the same was ultimately paid by the collateral deposited by Lulu Bloch. She then brought this action against Ike Bloch, alleging that she was subrogated to the rights of the Bank in said note.
Ike Bloch defended that the said Lulu Bloch was not a holder in due course, so not entitled to action on said note; that said note was discharged by the renewal note and that she was not entitled to subrogation inasmuch as she was a mere volunteer. The Cuyahoga Common Pleas directed a verdict in favor of defendant Ike Bloch. The Court of Appeals held:
1. Although the following notation appears on the note for $19,000 “January 8, 1923, paid by note of $24,000 of the United States Metal Goods Co.” such notation is not conclusive evidence of payment, and the fact still remains that said note never was paid by Ike Bloch.
2. Said note being retained by the Bank as collateral until the new note should be signed by him, and the new note being paid by Lulu Bloch, she was entitled to possession upon paying the renewal note.
3. Having become a party to the transaction at the request of Abe Bloch, one of the makers, and with the consent of the payee, she is not a mere volunteer in the matter of payment and is therefore entitled to subrogation.
4. Whether or not the new note was intended as payment of the old one, so as to discharge same, resolves itself into an intention of the parties in this regard and is a question for the jury to determine.
Judgment reversed.