Chalaron v. Vance

Mathews, J., delivered the opinion of the court. This is a suit, brought by an endorsee and holder of - a promissory note, (made in negotiable form) by the defendant. Judgment was rendered against him in the court below, from which he appealed. .The note now sued on, is one of a series of notes, made by the defendant, in favor of a certain Paul Pandelly, in consequence of an agreement entered into between these parties, in which the latter contracted to erect buildings on a lot of ground belonging to the former. In this contract, a mortgage was stipulated, in favor of the builder, to secure the price of building, which was estimated at fifteen thousand nine hundred dollars, for which three series of notes were given, payable in six, nine and twelve months from the date of the contract. The first of these series, consisting of three notes, were made payable six months after date, and to be delivered to the undertaker, when the buildings should be commenced. Of these notes, that on which the present action is [573] based, is one. They were all identified with the contract and mortgage. A note given in part payment of a contract for erecting certain buildings, secured by a mortgage on * the ground, is negotiable, and it is no defence against it, either in the hands of tbe original or subsequent holder, that the buildings were not completed according to contract. The paraph of a notary ne vanetur, on a negotiable note, does not in any manner •change the nature of its negotiability. When there fs no good and substantial cause for an appeal, it will be considered as frivolous, and taken for delay. In such cases the judgment appealed from will beaffirmed, with ten per cent, damages. In the commencement of this suit, the plaintiff claimed an order of seizure and sale, in pursuance of the summary mode of proceeding on acts importing a confession of judgment. This mod© of pursuit was afterwards changed into the via ordinario, and judgment rendered in the manner above stated. The evidence shows, that tbe buildings were in progress before the note in question was transferred, by endorsement, to the plaintiff. From this statement, it does not appear to us that the defendant could have any legal or equitable grounds to resist its payment, even in the bands of tbe original payee, much less, in those of an endorsee and bona fide holder, in a due course of trade. It has been settled, long since, that a paraph of a notary ne varietur, on a negotiable note, does not, in any manner, change tbe nature of such an instrument, in relation to its negotiability. We are unable to perceiVe any good or substantial cause for the appeal. It must, therefore, be considered as frivolous, and taken for the sake of delay, only. It is,s therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed, with costs; and that the plaintiff, in addition to the amount of said judgment, do recover from the appellant and defendant, ten per cent, on the amount thereof, as damages, on account of his frivolous appeal.