Hartge v. Capeloto , 136 Wash. 538 ( 1925 )

The plaintiff, Hartge, as assignee of the defendant Riley, commenced this action in the superior court for King county, seeking recovery from the defendants, Capeloto and the community composed of himself and wife and Riley, upon a promissory note, reading as follows:

"$500.00 Seattle, Wash., December 19th, 1924.

"For value received, I promise to pay to Howard H. Riley, or order, Five Hundred and no/100 Dollars in Gold Coin of the United States of America, with interest thereon in like Gold Coin at the rate of eight per cent per annum from date until paid, payable in monthly installments of not less than $50.00 in any one payment, together with the full amount of interest due on this note at time of payment of each installment. The first payment to be made on the 15th day of January, 1925, and a like payment on the 15th day of each month thereafter, until the whole sum, principal and interest, has been paid; if any of said installments are not so paid, the whole sum of both principal and interest to become immediately due and collectable. And in case suit or action is instituted to collect this note, or any portion thereof, I promise to pay such additional sum as the Court may adjudge reasonable as attorney's fees in said suit or action. Joseph Capeloto."

This action was commenced on January 17, 1925, two days after the maturity of the first installment, recovery being then sought upon the theory that the date of maturity of the whole indebtedness had been accelerated to that time by default in payment of the first installment, and Hartge's election to claim maturity of the whole indebtedness. A trial upon the merits before the court sitting without a jury resulted in findings and judgment of dismissal against Hartge, rested upon the theory that the action was prematurely commenced. From this disposition of the case in the superior court, Hartge has appealed to this court.

There is no room for serious controversy over what we consider the controlling facts of the case. They may be summarized as follows: On December 19, 1924, the note was executed as we have already indicated. On December 23, 1924, Riley, the payee, transferred the note by indorsement and delivery to Hartge who thereby became the owner and holder thereof. On that same day, Hartge, by letter, notified Capeloto of such transfer, and that he should make all payments upon the note at his, Hartge's, office, reminding Capeloto that the first payment would become due on January 15, 1925. The respective offices and places of business of Hartge and Capeloto were then, and at all times in question, in Seattle, but two blocks distant from each other, each at all times well knowing of the location of the other's office and place of business.

Soon after receiving the letter, Capeloto called Hartge and talked with him over the telephone, making inquiry as to the stated rate of interest in the note, which apparently he had forgotten, making no objection then or at any time to the regarding of Hartge's office as an appropriate and convenient place for making payments upon the note. Let us remember that that note does not, by its terms, specify any place of payment. On January 15, 1925, the date of the maturity of the first payment, Hartge called Capeloto over the telephone, but was unable to reach him, he being then absent from his place of business. Hartge called Capeloto over the telephone a second time that same day with the same result. Hartge never at any time agreed to any extension of time or forbearance with reference to payment of the first installment as specified in the note, though there was some telephone conversation between Riley and Hartge on January 16th indicating that probably Capeloto might come to Hartge's office and pay the note on that day. There was also some telephone conversation between Riley and Capeloto on that day which clearly reminded Capeloto that the first installment had matured the day previous. On the following day, January 17th, no payment being made or tendered to Hartge, he commenced this action seeking recovery upon the note; Capeloto being served with summons at his place of business at about the noon hour that day. Soon thereafter, Capeloto did tender the sum of $53 to Hartge in payment of the first installment and accrued interest, which tender was refused.

It is contended in behalf of Capeloto that, in any event, Hartge is not entitled to recovery upon the theory of acceleration of the due date of the whole indebtedness, because of Hartge's failure to effectually so elect. Our decision inCook v. Strelau, 127 Wn. 128, 219 P. 846, seems to us decisive against this contention; that holding, in harmony with prior observations of the court therein noticed, being that the commencement of an action seeking recovery upon the theory of acceleration of the due date of the whole indebtedness because of default in payments of installments agreed to be paid, as in this note, is of itself a sufficient election to that end. 8 C.J. 417.

In this connection, counsel for Capeloto argue that the commencement of this action does not effectually work such an election, because there is no direct allegation in the complaint that Hartge made such an election. While such an allegation in a complaint of this nature is not unusual and is appropriate, we fail to see why the commencement of the action and the demand for recovery of the whole indebtedness, the fact of default being alleged, do not as effectually evidence such an election as a specific allegation in the complaint to that effect would evidence such an election.

Counsel for Capeloto, and also evidently the trial judge, as we have already noted, both proceed upon the theory that Capeloto was not offered opportunity to make payment of the first installment at the specified time of its maturity, or before the commencement of the action. The argument seems to be that, before Hartge could claim default in payment of that installment, looking to the acceleration of the due date of the whole indebtedness, he would have to actually present the note and demand payment of Capeloto at his place of business; this, upon the theory that, there being no place for payment of the note designated by its terms, the law would make it payable at Capeloto's place of business or his residence. Counsel cite and rely principally upon our decision inBardsley v. Washington Mill Co., 54 Wn. 553, 103 P. 822, 132 Am. St. 1132. It must be conceded that there are some observations made in that decision which might seem to lend support to this contention. That decision, however, has been interpreted by us in James v. Brainard-Jackson Co., 64 Wn. 175,116 P. 633, as not holding all that counsel for Capeloto now claim for it. In this later decision, involving an acceleration of the due date substantially as the problem is here presented, Judge Fullerton, speaking for the court, said:

"An installment of interest was overdue on the mortgage, and by the express terms thereof, the holder was, for that reason, empowered to declare the whole sum due and payable. To entitle him to exercise the option it is enough that he give the maker of the notes an opportunity to pay when due. This the holder did by notifying the maker that he was the holder of the note and that the interest could be paid to him at a place stated in the city where the note was payable. He was not obligated to go to the maker and make a formal demand, and such is not the holding in the case of Bardsley v. Washington Mill Co., 54 Wn. 553,103 P. 822, 132 Am. St. 1133. In that case the maker was able and willing to pay the interest, but no opportunity was given him to do so at the place where the note was payable; it having been assigned by the payee and held by a bank in a state other than the one in which the note was payable. It was held that the payor was not obligated to tender payment outside of the place where the note was payable."

We think it must be held, under the facts here appearing, that Capeloto was furnished ample opportunity to make payment of the first installment at the office and place of business of Hartge, within two blocks of his, Capeloto's, place of business. Having failed in this respect and being in default and not having made tender of payment until after the service of summons upon him in this action at the noon hour of January 17, 1925, Hartge was strictly within his rights in commencing the action and thereby electing to accelerate the due date of the whole indebtedness to that time.

We are of the opinion that the trial court erred in refusing to award Hartge recovery as against Capeloto and the community composed of himself and wife for the full amount of the indebtedness. Whether or not the trial court should have also awarded recovery against Riley, we are unable to determine from the portion of the record brought here, in that we are not advised as to whether or not Riley was ever served with summons in this action, or as to whether or not he ever appeared therein. Our conclusion, therefore, is that the judgment of dismissal must be reversed and the cause remanded to the trial court with directions to render judgment in favor of Hartge against Capeloto and the community composed of himself and wife; and also to award or refuse recovery in favor of Hartge against Riley as the full record of the case in that court may warrant. It is so ordered. The question of attorney's fees to be awarded in pursuance of the terms of the note, we leave for decision in the first instance to the trial court.

TOLMAN, C.J., MAIN, and MITCHELL, JJ., concur.