Citizens Bank of Smithville v. Lair

• Decision Date: 05 March 1985
• Docket Number: No. WD,WD
• Citation: 687 S.W.2d 268
• Parties: 41 UCC Rep.Serv. 1360 CITIZENS BANK OF SMITHVILLE, Appellant, v. R.M. LAIR, Respondent. 35554.
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

Page 268

687 S.W.2d 268

41 UCC Rep.Serv. 1360

CITIZENS BANK OF SMITHVILLE, Appellant, v. R.M. LAIR, Respondent.

No. WD 35554.

Missouri Court of Appeals Western District.

March 5, 1985.

Kristin L. Farnen, Gladstone, for appellant.

Robert H. Shaw, Platte City, for respondent.

Before PRITCHARD, P.J., and SHANGLER and BERREY, JJ.

BERREY, Judge.

Appellant appeals from defendant's motion to dismiss which was sustained at close of plaintiff's evidence.

In this court-tried case the appellant brought suit against respondent as guarantor on a promissory note executed by his son, Ricky Lair.

The note in question was executed April 29, 1980, in the principal sum of $5,500.00 at 14.6 percent annual interest. Interest after the date of maturity would be at the "maximum rate permitted by law, together with reasonable attorney's fees in the event [the] note is not fully paid at maturity and the same is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection." The note was collateralized by "growing crops" and due December 30, 1980. The note also provided:

No renewal or extension of this note, no release or surrender of any collateral or other security for this note or any guaranty of this note, no release of any person primarily or secondarily liable on this note, no delay in the enforcement of payment of this note or guaranty of this note and no delay or omission in exercising any right or power under this note or any guaranty of this note, shall affect the liability of any parties liable hereon.

The note defines "parties liable" to include the guarantor.

Respondent, R.M. Lair, executed a guaranty agreement on the back of the promissory note providing that the "undersigned waive notice of acceptance of this guaranty, acknowledge themselves as fully bound by all provisions of said Agreement, and expressly agree to pay all amounts owing hereunder, upon demand, without requiring any action or proceeding against debtors." The president of the Citizens Bank of Smithville testified that he did not explain the document to R.M. Lair but did tell him his obligation as a guarantor was that, "If Ricky didn't pay, he had to pay." On the date of signing, the bank president and R.M. Lair discussed the amount of money Ricky would need to farm his 1980 crops.

Ricky planted the intended crops and ultimately received checks totaling $12,076.50 drawn on the Continental Grain Company naming Ricky Lair and the Citizens Bank as co-payees. Ricky and the bank discussed the disbursement of the proceeds, and the bank issued portions of the proceeds to Ricky and other portions to repay earlier existing loans between Ricky and the bank. It is unclear whether R.M. Lair was guarantor or co-maker of the earlier loans. "Not one penny" of the proceeds was used to pay the note which is the subject of litigation in the instant case.

On January 30, 1981, one month after the original note's due date, the appellant entered into a new agreement with Ricky without the advice or knowledge of respondent, guarantor R.M. Lair. The new instrument was entitled "Extension Agreement" and called for repayment of the principal amount ($5,500.00) at the higher interest rate of 14.8 percent effective January 19, 1981, and due June 30, 1981.

Appellant alleges: (1) the new agreement did not constitute a novation of the original note, (2) the defendant consented to such an extension, (3) there is no evidence the plaintiff unjustifiably impaired the collateral, and (4) that plaintiff used due diligence in efforts to collect the note.

The trial court sustained the defendant's motion to dismiss at the close of the plaintiff's evidence and, therefore, the facts should be stated on the basis that the plaintiff's evidence is true. M.H. Siegfried R. Est. v. City of Independence, 649 S.W.2d 893, 894 (Mo. banc 1983). The facts are not in conflict and the question concerns their legal effect. The judgment will be affirmed if correct. Id., at 895.

The liability of a guarantor is limited by the specific terms of the contract and is entitled to strict construction of his obligation in his favor. He is not bound beyond the letter of his obligation and nothing may be implied against him. Lange Co. v. Freeman, 13 S.W.2d 1092, 1094 (Mo.App.1929).

"[I]t is well settled that the rights of a guarantor are strictissimi juris, and the contract of guaranty must be construed strictly according to its terms, and no stretching or extension of its terms can be indulged in order to hold the guarantor liable on his guarantee." Zoglin v. Layland, 328 S.W.2d 718, 721 (Mo.App.1959) (emphasis added); see also : Pelligreen v. Century Furniture & Appliance Co., 524 S.W.2d 168, 172 (Mo.App.1975); Bank of Slater v. Harrington, 218 Mo.App. 645, 266 S.W. 496, 497 (1924).

The cases are legion that "when the intention is clearly expressed and defined in the written guaranty, the liability of the guarantor may not be extended beyond its express terms...." Eberly v. Lehmer, 48 S.W.2d 151, 153 (Mo.App.1932).

The general rule is that any alteration in the contract by the principals thereto releases the surety, unless the surety consents to it. And the rule is so strict that the courts will not stop to inquire whether the alteration was injurious or beneficial to the surety. The reason is that contracts of suretyship are strictly construed in favor of the surety, and he has a right to stand upon the exact contract he made; and no one, not even a court, can change it in any respect.

Beauchamp v. North American Sav. Ass'n, 543 S.W.2d 536, 538 (Mo.App.1976), quoting Missouri Finance Corporation v. Roos, 226 Mo.App. 869, 47 S.W.2d 142, 146 (1932).

A material alteration in, or departure from the contract of guaranty without the guarantor's consent will discharge him. 38 C.J.S. Guaranty § 74, at 1239-40 (1943); First State Bank v. Benson, 613 S.W.2d 888, 890-91 (Mo.App.1981); Cf. Robb v. N.W. Electric Power Cooperative, 297 S.W.2d 385, 388 (Mo.1957) (regarding alteration of instruments generally).

Whether an alteration in a [guaranty] contract is material depends upon whether after the alteration it expresses the same contract, and whether it will have the same operation and effect as before. If the change enlarges or lessens the liability, it is material and vitiates the contract. J.R. Watkins Co. v. Powell, 93 Okl. 219, 220 P. 585, 586 (1923).

"Under the common law and statutes declaratory thereof, a change in the amount as representing the liability on a bill or note or other contractual instrument is a material alteration such as to discharge a non-consenting party." 3A C.J.S. Alteration of Instruments § 46, at 308 (1973). Likewise,:

Where an interest clause is a material part of a ... note, ... any change of the instrument which alters the terms of the contract in this regard is material and vitiates it, as where a word or clause is added or inserted to make the instrument bear interest, when originally it did not, or where interest clause is stricken out. So it is a material alteration to change the rate of interest of the instrument whether this effects an increase or decrease in the rate,....

Id., § 48, at 309; see : Kircher v. Dunnington, 325 Mo. 355, 29 S.W.2d 138 (1930).

There is no doubt that in the instant case the "Extension Agreement" extended the period for repayment of the original note from eight months to fourteen months at an increased interest rate of 14.8 percent [as opposed to the original rate of 14.6 percent]. There is also no doubt, according to the overwhelming weight of authority, that the alterations were material. The controlling question is whether or not the respondent consented to the alterations.

Appellant argues that if the guarantee agreement contains a provision which contemplates or authorizes a change in the terms of the principal obligation, a change within the scope of the agreement does not discharge the guarantor. 38 Am.Jur.2d Guaranty, § 83 (1968). Appellant argues that this principle governs...