MARKS BROTHERS PAVING CO., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
MT. VERNON HOMES, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, DAVID WEINSTEIN, MICHAEL MELFA, ABRAHAM KASOW AND JACK SCHENKMAN, APPELLEES

Fla. 3d DCA | 1963-10-15
No. 62-664
Before CARROLL, TILLMAN PEARSON, and HENDRY, JJ.
156 So. 2d 787 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1963) Positive Treatment
Cited by 3 cases

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Synopsis

Marks Brothers Paving sued Mt. Vernon Homes and four individual indorsers on promissory notes. The trial court ruled the individuals were guarantors rather than accommodation indorsers, but found no consideration for the guaranty. The appellate court reversed, holding that forbearance and extension of time constitute sufficient consideration to support a guarantor's promise.


Holding

Forbearance and extension of time given by a creditor to a debtor constitute sufficient consideration for a third person's promise to guarantee payment. The trial court correctly identified the defendants as guarantors rather than accommodation indorsers, but erred in concluding there was no consideration for their guaranty.


Key Quotes

“An extension of time in which to pay an obligation constitutes sufficient consideration for a guaranty in respect thereof.”

The court's statement of the legal principle that forms the basis for its holding, citing Bennett v. Senn as authority.

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Facts & Procedural History

Plaintiff Marks Brothers Paving held overdue obligations owed by Mt. Vernon Homes. Plaintiff agreed to forbear and extend payment time on condition th…

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Opinion of the Court
CARROLL, Judge.

CARROLL, Judge.

The appellant filed an action on two-promissory notes, against the maker, Mt. Vernon Homes, Inc., and four indorsers, David Weinstein, Michael Melfa, Abraham Kasow and Jack Schenkman. The complaint alleged the individuals were accommodation indorsers. Attached thereto were copies of the notes showing the in-dorsements, preceded by the following language: “In case of default payment of this note guaranteed by:” Defendants answered and the case was tried before the court without a jury. Judgment was granted against the maker, but in favor of the indorsers upon concluding that they were not accommodation indorsers (not needing consideration)1 but were guarantors (needing consideration)2 and holding there was no consideration for the guaranty.

The determinative question presented on this appeal, as stated by the appellant, is “Whether forbearance and extension of time is sufficient consideration to support a promise to pay the obligation of a note as a guarantor of said note.”

The evidence disclosed the notes were given in connection with an undertaking on the part of the plaintiff to forbear and grant an extension of time for payment of an overdue obligation of the defendant corporation owed to the plaintiff, and it was shown, that a condition of such extension and forbearance was that the debtor should furnish such notes with indorsements thereon by the individuals.

*788As authorized by rule 1.15, F.R.C.P., 30 F.S.A., the trial judge considered the complaint amended to conform to the proofs which showed the individual defendants to be guarantors rather than accommodation indorsers.3 In so ruling the trial judge was eminently correct, but in holding there was no consideration to support the promise of the guarantors the learned trial judge was in error.

Of the four indorsers, three were directly interested in the debtor corporation as officers, directors or shareholders. The fourth was the father of a man so interested. The forbearance and extension, conditioned on procuring the indorsements, was arranged through conferences of two of the indorsers with the plaintiff. It is clear that the indorsers obligated themselves for the purpose of gaining such forbearance and extension of time for the debtor corporation. The resulting guaranty of the indorsers was supported by consideration. Bennett v. Senn, 106 Fla. 446, 144 So. 840. In 30 Fla.Jur., Suretyship and Guaranty, § 31, p. 425, citing the Bennett case as authority, it is said: “An extension of time in which to pay an obligation constitutes sufficient consideration for a guaranty in respect thereof.” See also Moore v. Lee Tire & Rubber Co. of New York, 8 Cir., 1921, 273 F. 465; Warren Nat. Bank, Warren, Pa. v. Suerken, 45 Cal.App. 736, 188 P. 613; Loewenherz v. Weil, 33 Ga.App. 760, 127 S.E. 883; O’Neil v. Dux, 257 Minn. 383, 101 N.W.2d 588; Mandle v. Horspool, 198 Mo.App. 649, 201 S.W. 638; Sawyer v. Bahnsen, 102 Okl. 41, 226 P. 344; and 1 Corbin, Contracts, § 139, p. 594, stating: “An extension of time given by a creditor to his debtor is a sufficient consideration for a third person’s promise. Frequently this promise is a promise to pay the debt in the form of an indorsement or a guaranty.”

Accordingly, to the extent that the judgment is in favor of the indorsers it is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith.

Reversed and remanded.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Thaddeus J. Bara and Lois S. Bara v. Jones, 400 So. 2d 88 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981)
    …s good consideration for the promise of a third person, even though the claim is not asserted against the third person and the forbearance was of no advantage to him. 1 Corbin On Contracts, § 139; Marks Brothers Paving Co. v. Mt. Vernon Homes, Inc., 156 So. 2d 787 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1963). In the case at bar, Jones contends that she intended only to collateralize the debt and that she was misled. However, it is clear that any misrepresentations were attributable to O’Dell and not to the Baras. Jones also takes th…
  • Marks Bros. Paving Co. v. MT. Vernon Homes, Inc., 169 So. 2d 890 (Fla. 3d DCA 1964)
    …PER CURIAM. Affirmed. See also Fla.App., 156 So. 2d 787.…

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