{ "id": 1438636, "name": "First National Bank of Huttig v. Rhode Island Insurance Company", "name_abbreviation": "First National Bank v. Rhode Island Insurance", "decision_date": "1931-11-30", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "812", "last_page": "819", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "184 Ark. 812" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "104 Ark. 627", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1350648 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/104/0627-01" ] }, { "cite": "83 S. W. 318", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 Ark. 120", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1503986 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/73/0120-01" ] }, { "cite": "87 N. E. 687", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "201 Mass. 172", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 3491193 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/201/0172-01" ] }, { "cite": "286 S. W. 914", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "case_ids": [ 10317138 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw/286/0914-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 N. E. 104", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "203 N. Y. 91", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2362955 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/203/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 N. W. 724", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "case_ids": [ 2567735 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nd/11/0010-01" ] }, { "cite": "9 Ind. Rep. 163", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1466866 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ind/9/0163-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 Doug. (Mich.) 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Doug.", "case_ids": [ 228867 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/doug/1/0193-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 411, "char_count": 7734, "ocr_confidence": 0.493, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.0275291628232786e-07, "percentile": 0.7461763214766575 }, "sha256": "824400a33b2aeb475cbed5868230c698a78894413c1cc968b9b2bed707e632f2", "simhash": "1:2222a01fcc751b2e", "word_count": 1394 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:31:33.560918+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "First National Bank of Huttig v. Rhode Island Insurance Company." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Hart, C. J.,\n(after stating the facts). The court erred in holding that the First National Bank of Huttig was not entitled to the proceeds of the insurance draft for two reasons:\nIn the first place, under our Negotiable Instruments Act, \u00a7 7896 of Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest, where, in a bill of exchange, the drawer and the drawee are the sam\u00e9 person, the holder may treat the instrument at his election either as a \u00a1bill of exchange or as a promissory note. This was the law prior to the passage of the act in question. A bill of exchange drawn by the maker upon himself is in legal effect a promissory note and cannot be countermanded. Where a bill of exchange is drawn by a corporation upon itself, the instrument may be treated as an accepted bill or as a promissory, note, at the election of the holder. 8 C. J., \u00b6 23, pp. 42-43; 3 R. C. L., \u00b6 62, p. 878; 1 Daniel on Negotiable Instruments (6th ed.), \u00a7\u00a7 128 and 426; Hasey v. White Pigeon Beet Sugar Co., 1 Doug. (Mich.) 193; Cunningham v. Wardwell, 3 Fair. (Me.) 466; Marion and Mississnewa Rd. Co. v. Hodge, 9 Ind. Rep. 163; Drinkall v. Movius State Bank, 11 N. Dak. 10, 88 N. W. 724; Pavenstert v. New York Life Ins. Co., 203 N. Y. 91, 96 N. E. 104, Ann. Cas. 1913A, page 805; and Bailey v. Triplett Bros., (Tex. Civ. App.) 286 S. W. 914.\nIn the present case, the instrument which is the basis of the suit was in form a bill of exchange. It was drawn by the corporation, Rhode Island Insurance Company, under the signature of its president upon itself. In other words, it was a bill of exchange drawn by the corporation through its proper officer upon itself, and was not therefore subject to countermand.\nIt is claimed, however, that it was conditional because of the words \u201cupon acceptance\u201d in it. Under our statute, and under the principles of law above announced, these words had no legal effect on the instrument. They were in the instrument when it was signed by the president of the corporation, and the very act of drawing \u25a0 the bill is deemed an acceptance of it, and the holder may treat it as an accepted bill of exchange or as a promissory note.\nIt is also suggested by counsel for the insurance company that this case is ruled by the principles of law announced in Berenson v. London & Lancashire Fire Ins. Co., 201 Mass. 172, 87 N. E. 687. We do not think so, but, on the other hand, think the conclusion we have reached is supported by the reasoning in that case. In that case the draft was drawn upon the Hartford agency of an English insurance company, and the signature to it was by one who described himself as \u201cspecial agent.\u201d Reading this language in connection with the words \u201cupon acceptance\u201d makes it plain that the transaction was limited to the extent of requiring approval or ratification by the Hartford agency of the insurance company. This was because an agent of limited authority drew the bill, and the Hartford agency was required to give life to it by its approval of the adjustment of the loss. Hence the court held that, since the draft had not been accepted 'by the Hartford agency of the insurance company, it never became a complete contract and was not a negotiable instrument.\nHere the draft was signed by the president of the company, who had authority to sign it; and the contract became binding and complete when he did sign it, because he had authority to make the contract, and no approval or ratification of his act was necessary.\nIn the next place, there was no legal garnishment against the insurance company at the time it turned over the draft to its agent to be delivered to A. L. Barber, which was done on the 28th day of August, 1930'. The record shows that J. Y. Spencer filed the complaint in this action on the 25th day of August, 1930, and that the writ of garnishment was issued on that day, and that the writ was served on the insurance company on the 27th day of August, 1930.' No summons was issued upon the complaint until the 30th day of August, 1930, which was after the date of the issuance of the garnishment. Garnishment is a proceeding whereby the plaintiff seeks to subject to his claim property in the hands of a third person or money owed by such person to the defendant. Davis v. Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Rd. Co., 73 Ark. 120, 83 S. W. 318, 3 Ann. Cas. 658. The stage of proceedings at which garnishment may issue is purely statutory, and judicial garnishment at law is a creature of the statute which authorizes it. This principle is elemental, and no citation of authorities is necessary to support it.\nUnder \u00a7 4906 of Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest, it is provided that, in all cases where any plaintiff may begin an action in any court of record and such plaintiff shall have reason to believe that any other person is indebted to the defendant, he may have a writ of garnishment issued by complying with the statutory procedure in .doing so. Thus it will be seen that the plaintiff had no right to have a writ of garnishment issued until after the commencement of the action.\nIn this State an action is commenced when the complaint is filed in the office of the clerk of the court, and a summons is issued thereon. Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest, \u00a7 1049; Barker v. Cunningham, 104 Ark. 627. Under our garnishment statute, it is essential to the writ of garnishment that, at the time the writ is issued, the plaintiff has begun his action. Under our statute, and -the decision of this court construing it, above cited, the action was not commenced until the complaint was filed and the summons was issued. It is true that the plaintiff, J. Y. Spencer, testified that he did not know why the clerk did not issue summons until after the writ of garnishment had been issued, but it is not shown that he asked that a summons be issued at the time he filed his complaint, and that the clerk neglected or refused to do so. Our garnishment statute plainly means that the writ may be issued where the plaintiff has begun his action, or at any time thereafter; but, as we have just seen, the action was not commenced until the complaint was filed and the summons issued upon it. Hence, at the time the instrument, which is the basis of this lawsuit, was turned over by the agent of the insurance company to A. L. Barber, as the agent of-the payees in the instrument, no legal garnishment had been issued against the insurance company. Therefore, J. Y. Spencer was not entitled to the proceeds of the insurance. On the other hand, A. L. Barber and D. R. Spencer, two of the payees in the draft, had indorsed it to the bank, which was also a payee, and as such became entitled to the proceeds of it, Therefore the court erred in rendering judgment in favor of J. Y. Spencer against the Rhode Island Insurance Company, and in holding that the First National Bank of Huttig was not entitled to the proceeds of the instrument which is the basis of this action.\nBoth the bank and the insurance company have appealed to this court. The bank has appealed from the judgment against it, and the insurance company has appealed from the judgment against it in favor of J. Y. Spencer. Therefore the judgment will be reversed, and the cause will be remanded with directions to render judgment in favor of the bank for $439.03 against the insurance company and to dismiss the garnishment proceeding of Spencer against said insurance company, and for such further proceedings, according to law, as may be necessary and which are not inconsistent with this opinion. It is so ordered.", "type": "majority", "author": "Hart, C. J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Gaughan, Sifford, Godwin & Gaughan, for appellant.", "Verne McMillen, for Rhode Island Ins. Co., and Marsh, McKay <& Marlin, for J. V. Spencer, appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "First National Bank of Huttig v. Rhode Island Insurance Company.\nOpinion delivered November 30, 1931.\nGaughan, Sifford, Godwin & Gaughan, for appellant.\nVerne McMillen, for Rhode Island Ins. Co., and Marsh, McKay <& Marlin, for J. V. Spencer, appellees." }, "file_name": "0812-01", "first_page_order": 852, "last_page_order": 859 }