182 N.E. 18 | NY | 1932
Lead Opinion
The complaint alleges that defendant Hotel Martinique, Inc., for a consideration, delivered to plaintiff a certified check drawn by the hotel company upon defendant the Bank of United States for $11,000, and that upon presentation the bank refused payment. Judgment is demanded for the amount of the check together with the protest fee and interest and costs. The answer of the bank alleges that the certification was made through error; that at the time the check was presented for certification, the hotel company's account was held subject to a lien for a sum in excess of the amount of the check and that the certification clerk overlooked and failed to note the fact that a "hold" order had been placed against that account; that the bank immediately notified plaintiff of the mistake and that plaintiff has suffered no loss as a result of the erroneous certification. The answer of the hotel company alleges that the check was accepted by plaintiff in full settlement and discharge of the hotel's obligation and that it has been wholly discharged. On motion by plaintiff for summary judgment, its president by affidavit alleges that, upon receipt of the check, credit was given by plaintiff to the Hotel Martinique for $11,000 and that plaintiff relied upon the bank's certification. The bank's opposing affidavits set forth that the hotel company had $21,000 on deposit but that it owed the bank $60,000 on a note resulting in an indebtedness of $39,000. Upon default in payment of the note, the bank caused the hotel's account to be placed in a green jacket and marked "hold — refer all checks to Mr. Adamson," and all employees were directed to take his instructions before honoring any checks. At that time the hotel also owed plaintiff an installment of interest on a mortgage and drew the check, which is the subject of this litigation, to plaintiff's order for *368 $11,000, and presented it to the bank for certification. The temporary certification clerk who received it, according to the affidavit of an assistant vice-president, misunderstood the information conveyed to him by the bookkeeper and, instead of obtaining Mr. Adamson's instructions, certified the check. Immediately thereafter, according to the same affidavit, plaintiff was informed that this error had been committed and that on account of it the check would not be honored.
If the check was in fact certified by mistake and if plaintiff's position was not in fact changed on the faith of the certification, the bank has an equitable defense (Irving Bank
v. Wetherald,
The judgments should be reversed and the motion for summary judgment denied, with costs in all courts.
Dissenting Opinion
The Hotel Martinique, Inc., had sufficient balance with the Bank of United States to meet the check for $11,000, drawn to the order of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The bank certified the check. At the time it had not appropriated the funds to any lien or indebtedness of its own. Had it paid the check — cashed it — the money could not have been recovered. Certification in business transactions today is equivalent to cashing a check, so long as the bank be solvent, i.e., the bank by its certificate agrees to keep the funds to pay the check and to pay it. (White v. Eiseman,
Besides, the Hotel Martinique, Inc., with this certified check paid its indebtedness to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and received credit therefor. The debt was paid and discharged. Too late now for the bank to claim a mistake in certification when the insurance company received its promise in payment of the drawer's obligation.
I am for affirmance.
POUND, Ch. J., KELLOGG, HUBBS and CROUCH, JJ., concur with O'BRIEN, J.; CRANE, J., dissents in opinion in which LEHMAN, J., concurs.
Judgment accordingly. *370