First National Bank of New Windsor v. Bynum

Ashe, J. The only question presented by the appeal is whether the indebtedness to the defendants can avail them as a set-off, counterclaim, or defence against the demand of plaintiff, and that depends upon the character of the writing declared on — whether it is negotiable or not? The essential element of a negotiable promissory note, is., that it should be certain. Certainty, first, as to the payee; secondly, as to the maker; thirdly, as to the amount to be paid; fourthly, as to the time when the payment is to be made; and fifthly as to the fact itself of the payment. 1 Parsons on Bills and Notes, 30. The instrument under consideration is wanting in two of these qualities, to-wit, in the amount to be paid and the time of payment. In addition to the specific sum promised, it stipulates for the 'payment of “ all counsel fees and expenses in collecting the note if it is sued on or placed in the hands of an attorney for collection ;” and it is made payable in current rate of exchange on New York. The stipulation in a written promise to pay a certain sum and also “ all fines according to rules,” “ all-other sums that may be due, the current rate of exchange to be added,” or “ deducting all advances or expenses,” have been held to deprive the instrument of the character of negotiability. 1 Parsons, 37. In Wood v. North, 84 Penn. State Rep., 407, where the action was on a note in which there was a promise to pay a certain sum, and five per cent, collection fee, if not paid when due, Sharswood, J., says: “It is a necessary quality of a negotiable paper that it should be simple, certain, unconditional, and not subject to any contingency.” And it was held in that case that the insertion in the note of the clause, “and five per cent, collection fee if not paid when *28 due,” rendered the note uncertain and destroyed its negotiability. In Missouri it has been held that an instrument whereby the maker promises to pay a specific sum, and agrees, if the sum be not paid at maturity and the note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection, to pay ten-per cent, in addition as an attorney’s fee, is not a promissory note, as a part of the amount agreed to be paid is uncertain and contingent. Bank v. Gay, 63 Mo., 33; Goodloe v. Taylor, 3 Hawks, 458. But there is another serious objection to the claim set up for the negotiability of this instrument. It stipulates that the payees shall have full power to declare the note due at any time they may deem the note insecure, even before the maturity of the same. This divests it of the quality of certainty in the time of payment, which as has been shown is one of the essential elements of negotiability. The time of payment may be hastened at the option of the payees, and is therefore uncertain. And it has been held in Michigan that it is essential to a promissory note that it be payable at a time that must certainly arrive in the future, upon the happening of some event, or the completion of some period, not depending upon the volition of any one. Brooks v. Hargreaves, 21 Mich., 254. Relying upon these authorities we hold that the instrument in question is not negotiable. The next inquiry is, can the defendants, the note being assigned before maturity, avail themselves of the indebtedness of the assignor to them, as a valid defence to the action ? • . In the early history of the law, the transfers of all dioses in action, including bills and notes, were forbidden by the common law, the rigid rule of which was first relaxed by the use of bills of exchange, which was the result of commercial convenience; and hence the law on this subject is *29 termed the “ Law Merchant.” Promissory notes were first made negotiable in England, like inland bills of exchange, by the statute of 8 and 4 Anne, ch. 9, and in this state by our act of 1862, which is a literal copy of that statute. But to attain the negotiability intended to be conferred by that act; it must possess all the attributes of an inland bill of exchange as to certainty, &c.; and if it should lack any of its essential qualities, it would still be a common law instrument and subject to the principles of that law in regard to choses in action. As for instance, where a nou-negotiable note is assigned, the action at law must be brought by the assignee in the name of the assignor; and the assignee is put by the assignment in no better condition than the assignor, and only steps into his shoes, and the note assigned is subject to all the equities and defences which existed between the original parties before notice of the assignment; and it made no difference whether the note was assigned before or after maturity. The rule that the endorsee of a bill or note before maturity takes it freed from all equities and defences, except endorsed payments, is a principle of the Law Merchant, and applies to negotiable instruments, but has no application to notes that are not negotiable. Where an action is brought on a note of the latter class by the assignee in the name of the assignor, the rule is, that the equities set up by the defendant .against the assigD.ee must be such as subsisted at the time the defendant received notice of the assignment. 1 Danl. Neg. Instr., 555; 1 Parsons, 46; Harris v. Burwell, 65 N. C., 584. But the common law rule that an action by the assignee of a paper that is not negotiable must be brought in the name of the assignor has been changed in this state by section 55 of the Code, so as to enable him to sue in his own name, but without prejudice to any set-off or other defence existing at the time of or before notice of assignment. This section, it will be seen, makes no change whatever in the law, except as to *30 allowing the assignee to sue in his own name, instead of that of the assignor. There is no error, and the judgment of the superior court of Wilson must be affirmed. No error. Affirmed.