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46 Mich. 328

Goetchius v. Calkins

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided June 22, 1881

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1881-06-22

<p>Joint note — Suretyship—Oontribution.</p> <p>B. and G-. gave a joint note to 0., Gr. signing as B.’s surety. O. indorsed it to P. wlio afterwards released it, taking instead a joint note given by CJ-. with O. as surety. Meld, that on the original note Gr. was the debtor of C. and would have had recourse oniy to B., and that on paying the second note he could not claim, contribution from O. who was virtually his surety in both cases.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently March 1919

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1881-06-22

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Campbell, J.

¶1Goetchius sues Calkins to recover contribution for his alleged excess of payment on a joint note executed by the two to William Park, on the 2d of February, 1878. The consideration of this note was the release ■and extension of time of a former note which Goetchius and •one Brown had formerly executed to Calkins, on which Goetchius was surety and Brown principal. Calkins was the nominal payee and held it in trust for other parties; and it had been transferred to Park to raise money for their benefit.

¶2We think there is no foundation for any such claim. Goetchius was the debtor of Calkins, and was bound to pay him or his indorsee the whole of the old note, having recourse only to Brown for re-imbursement. Calkins owed him nothing, and there is no consideration whatever which would make it equitable to compel him to assume half of a debt which would have been due to himself in case he and not Goetchius had paid Park. He, in other words, is on the present note as to Goetchius as he was on the old note which he indorsed, not an original co-debtor, but a surety for Goetchius as principal debtor. When Goetchius paid the note he paid no more than as between the two he was bound to pay.

¶3The judgment must be affirmed with costs.

The other Justices concurred.
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