10 N.J. Misc. 90 | N.J. | 1931
This suit came on for trial before me and a jury at the Morris Circuit. At the conclusion of the trial, counsel for defendant moved the direction of a verdict on the ground that no question of fact was involved and that under the law applicable no recovery could be had. At the suggestion of the court, to the end that better oppor
Plaintiff bank seeks to recover of defendant as an endorser the amount due on a promissory note of the following tenor:
'“$10,000.00. Morristown, N. J., Oct. 1st, 1926.
On demand after date, I promise to pay to the order of myself, ten thousand and 00/100 dollars, at the First National Bank of Morristown. Value received.
(Signed) C. H. Munson.”
Indorsed:
C. H. Munson,
Clifton E. Tubnee.
The note was discounted by the bank at or about its date for Munson, to whom the proceeds were credited. Turner was merely an accommodation endorser concededly having received no benefit. The note was not paid, but it was not formally protested for non-payment until May 12th, 1930, three years, seven months and eleven days after its date. "While admitting receipt of the notice of protest on the date indicated, defendant denies liability on the ground that presentment was not made within a reasonable time after its issue. Plaintiff in its reply sets up an alleged waiver on the part of defendant of presentment and protest, and claims the right to recover on that ground, notwithstanding the delay and the later formal presentment and protest.
The evidence at the trial discloses the making of the note by Munson and its discount by the bank at his request, with which defendant appears to have had nothing to do. By reason of some previous or casual acquaintance, he, without being in anywise interested in the purpose to which Munson intended to apply or use the proceeds, at the latter’s request endorsed the note as an accommodation.
Munson was not produced at the trial as a witness or otherwise examined, with the result that the ease lacked circumstantial detail as to the inception of the note and whether it was made known to defendant at the time when it was to be paid or how long it was to be carried. Since it had no provision for the payment of interest on its face, it would seem that defendant could not be charged with implied knowledge thereof. See Gershman v. Adelman, 103 N. J. L. 284, 286, where it is said: “Providing for the payment of interest on a demand note generally shows or indicates that immediate presentment was not contemplated. This fact is generally to be considered in determining whether the note has been presented within a reasonable time.”
The failure of the bank to cause the presentment and protest of the note in suit for over three years does appear to involve an unreasonable length of time, especially as it evidently knew for some period prior to May 6th, 1929, that the maker would not or could not pay. Under ordinary circumstances, therefore, it would seem that the endorser would be entitled to the protection of the statute. 3 Comp. Stat, § 71, p. 3744.
In the circumstances of the case, as indicated by the evidence, I am constrained to hold that the plaintiff bank failed to cause presentment of the note within a reasonable time after its issue, and that no adequate proof of the defendant’s waiver of presentment and protest was offered.
The foregoing leads to the conclusion that the motion for the direction of a verdict in favor of defendant should be granted. (An exception will be allowed to the court’s ruling.) A postea may be submitted in accordance herewith.