Lyon v. Aiken

70 Iowa 16 | Iowa | 1886

Seevers, J.

Tbis action was brought on a note executed by I. Warford and tbe defendant. As a defense it was pleaded that tbe note was executed to secure a partnership indebtedness of tbe makers, who were then associated together in business; that defendant sold bis interest therein to Warford, who, in consideration thereof, agreed to pay tbe indebtedness of said partnership, including said note. Thereafter tbe plaintiff and Warford associated themselves together in business; and tbe defendant, being anxious that tbe note should be 'paid, requested tbe plaintiff to take immediate steps to collect it, or if be failed to do so, tbe defendant would institute proceedings for that purpose, whereupon tbe plaintiff requested defendant to forbear from doing so, for tbe reason that it would injure tbe business in which be and Warford were then engaged, and tbe plaintiff then agreed that he would so arrange tbe matter with Warford as to release tbe defendant, and shortly thereafter tbe plaintiff stated to him that be and Warford bad so settled and arranged, as to tbe payment of tbe note, as to relieve the defendant from any obligation to pay it, and not to concern himself in relation thereto; that, relying on said statements and agreements, tbe defendant took no measures to compel Warford to pay the note, or to protect himself from liability thereon; that at said time Warford was solvent, but afterwards become insolvent, and so died. Wherefore, by reason of tbe premises, the plaintiff is-estopped from maintaining tbis action. To tbis defense the plaintiff demurred, and tbe demurrer was sustained.

I. It is insisted by the appellee that both Warford and the defendant were principals, and that any agreement between themselves would in no manner affect the plaintiff. We shall not stop to inquire whether, as between themselves, Warford and the defendant were principals; but it will be conceded that, as to the plaintiff, they were such.' Warford, upon a sufficient consideration flowing from the defendant, promised and agreed with him to pay the note. Upon this assumption and promise the defendant could have maintained an action without showing that he had paid the note. Stout v. Folger, 34 Iowa, 71. This being so, and upon the defendant threatening to bring such an action, the plaintiff requested him not to do so, for the reason that it would injure plaintiff’s business, and promised that he would see Warford, and arrange the matter with him, and afterwards informed defendant that he had done so, and that he was released from all obligation on the note.

We think the plaintiff is estopped from now maintaining this action. Thornburg v. Madren, 33 Iowa, 580. In this case the party pleading the estoppel was a surety, but the two cases are alike in so far as the estoppel is concerned, and in the facts on which it is based. The only doubt we have is whether it is essential that the plaintiff should have had knowledge of the promise made by Warford to pay the note; and, if it is, whether this sufficiently appears from the answer. These questions have not been discussed by counsel, and we therefore shall not determine them. Counsel for appellee, however, insist that there was no sufficient consideration, upon which the estoppel can be based. In this we do not concur. It is apj>arent from the answer that the defendant was subjected to loss because of what the plaintiff did. For Warford was solvent when the promise and declaration was made, and he afterwards became insolvent. The demurrer should have been overruled.

REVERSED.