Westchester Trust Co. v. Harrison

Action upon a series of notes made and delivered by defendant Harrison to the plaintiff trust company. Defendant Harrison counterclaimed upon a,n alleged agreement that the plaintiff sold certain mortgage certificates to him and at the time of each sale had made an agreement to repurchase them at any time he should demand such repurchase. The certificates were delivered to the plaintiff as collateral for the notes in suit. Defendant Harrison demanded that the plaintiff carry out its agreement of repurchase and apply the proceeds to the payment of the notes. The plaintiff did not comply with the demand and brought action for the notes. Judgment for defendant Harrison reversed on the law and counterclaim dismissed, with costs, and judgment directed for the plaintiff for the amount demanded in the complaint. Assuming the agreement relied on by defendant Harrison was made, the defense of ultra vires, raised on the reply to the counterclaim, was not available to the plaintiff (Vought v. Eastern Bldg. & Loan Assn., 172 N. Y. 508; Carr v. Nat. Bank & Loan Co., 167 id. 375, 380; Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Stephens, 214 id. 488; Dill & Collins Co. v. Morison, 159 App. Div. 583, 586); nevertheless, the agreement is contrary to public policy and may not be enforced against a bank as the contingent liabilities generated by such agreements might imperil the capital and surplus of a bank and the security of its depositors. (Mount Vernon Trust Co. v. Bergoff, 272 N. Y. 192; Bay Parkway Nat. Bank v. Shalom, 270 id. 172; Brown v. Union Banking Co., 274 Mich. 499; 265 N. W. 447; Farmers & Mechanics Sav. Bk. v. Crookston State Bk., 169 Minn. 249, 252; 210 N. W. 998; Hawkins Realty Co. v. Hawkins State Bank, 205 Wis. 406; 236 N. W. 657; Knass v. Madison & Kedzie State Bank, 354 Ill. 554; 188 N. E. 836; appeal dismissed, 292 U. S. 599.) This element in the contract may be challenged at this time a§ violating sound public policy. ' (Massachusetts Nat. Bank v. Shinn, 163 N. Y. 360, 363.) Lazansky, P. J., Hagarty, Carswell, Davis and Adel, JJ., concur.