Traverse City State Bank v. Conaway

R. B. Burns, P. J. The defendants, husband and wife, signed a note as makers in return for a $9,843-.75 loan from plaintiff bank. All of the money was to be used in a business operated exclusively by the husband, John Conaway. The wife, Marion Conaway, received no separate consideration and signed as an accommodation to her husband. Subsequent to the execution of the note, but prior to institution of suit by plaintiff, John Conaway was adjudged bankrupt and was individually discharged. Both plaintiff and defendants submitted the case to the trial judge on stipulated facts and moved for summary judgment. Although the plaintiff asked for a joint judgment against the defendants restricting execution to entireties and joint property, the trial judge in his opinion stated: “The only issue of law then before the court is, ‘Is the defendant wife liable for the repayment of the above note when she received no separate consideration, nor did she intend to mortgage or pledge her separate estate to secure the repayment thereof?’ ” A judgment was entered dismissing the case against John E. Conaway and Marion R. Conaway but neither the opinion nor the judgment reach the critical issue of joint liability. Property owned by Marion and John Conaway as tenants by the entireties or joint tenants remains subject to a joint judgment against them regardless of Mr. Conaway’s discharge in bankruptcy. Kolakowski v Cyman, 285 Mich 585 (1938). *649 By virtue of 1917 PA 158; MCLA 557.51 et seq.; MSA 26.181 et seq., a married woman who signs a written instrument as an accommodation to her husband, subjects to execution property held by the entireties or jointly. Ann Arbor Construction Co v Glime, 369 Mich 669 (1963); Benjamin v Bondy, 322 Mich 35 (1948); Rossman v Hutchinson, 289 Mich 577 (1939). The trial judge erred. A judgment should have been entered for the plaintiff against the defendants jointly with execution limited to entireties and joint property. Reversed and remanded to the trial court for entrance of a judgment in accordance with this opinion. All concurred.