Bank of Suffolk County v. Kite, 49 N.Y.2d 827

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.

It is trué that parol evidence may be admissible to prove a condition precedent to the legal effectiveness of a written agreement if the condition is not contradictory or at variance with its express terms (Hicks v Bush, 10 NY2d 488, 491; see Long Is. Trust Co. v International Inst, for Packaging Educ., 38 NY2d 493, 496-497). But that rule is inapplicable on the facts here. The allegedly unexpressed condition to the promissory note — that defendants, despite their having signed as makers of the note, were not to be held personally liable — was clearly inconsistent with not only the unqualified form of this negotiable instrument, but with its explicit waiver of "the right to interpose any defense, set-off or counterclaim whatsoever” as well (see Fleck v Bank of Suffolk County, 67 AD2d 676, 677; Meadow Brook Nat. Bank v. Bzura, 20 AD2d 287, 290). Defendants’ averments that there existed an oral understanding that they would not be liable on the note did not therefore stand in the way of plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg and Meyer concur in memorandum.

Order affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: Bank of Suffolk County v. Kite

Court Name: New York Court of Appeals

Date Published: Mar 18, 1980

Citations: 49 N.Y.2d 827; 404 N.E.2d 1323; 427 N.Y.S.2d 782; 28 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 710; 1980 N.Y. LEXIS 2193

Court Abbreviation: N.Y.