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66 Mich. 341

Seligman v. Gray

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided June 16, 1887

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1887-06-16

<p>Promissory notes — Joint indorsers — Discharge—Judgment,</p> <p>In a suit against two joint indorsers of a promissory note, the court directed a verdict against one, and in favor of the other, and - judgment was rendered accordingly. The plea was joint, and there was no pretense of severance by bankruptcy or other act or thing which could terminate the liability of one and leave the other bound.</p> <p>Held, error, the discharge of one surety being the discharge of both.1</p>

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently December 1938

3 state decisions

Relies on Winslow v. Herrick

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Beversed · Decided 1887-06-16

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Campbell, C. J.

¶1Seligman brought an action on the common counts under the statute upon a note of which Gray *342was maker, and Adams and Freeman were joint indorsers. No judgment was taken against Gray, and the suit stood on trial as a suit against the two indorsers. The defense was a failure to properly present the note for payment, and notify the indorsers of its dishonor. The court below directed the jury that the evidence showed a good demand and notice on Adams, but not on Freeman, and directed a verdict in favor of Freeman and against Adams. This charge was excepted to, and error assigned, among other things, on this charge. A verdict was given and judgment rendered in favor of Freeman, but against Adams.

¶2There were some difficulties in the case which would require attention if the final disposition had not rendered them unimportant. This action was upon a joint obligation of Freeman and Adams. The record, as framed, established the fact that they made it jointly, and they were so charged. They pleaded jointly, and there is no pretense of severance by bankruptcy or other act or thing which could put an end to the liability of one and leave the other bound.

¶3This being so, it is well settled law that there must be, in a joint action, a joint judgment, or no judgment at all. Wutn the court found there was no joint liability, it was error to hold there was a sole liability against Adams. Unless both could be held in this action, neither could be. As this is entirely clear under our own decisions, there is no occasion to discues it. Winslow v. Herrick, 9 Mich. 380; Ballou v. Hill, 23 Id. 60; Mace v. Page, 33 Id. 38; Anderson v. Robinson, 38 Id. 407; Anderson v. White, 39 Id. 130.

¶4Plaintiff could not, under these decisions, take judgment against one of two defendants jointly charged. The discharge of one is the discharge of both.

¶5The judgment must be reversed, with costs of both courts»

The other Justices concurred.
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