Delta Acceptance Corp. v. Goldman, 13382

Decision Date10 June 1980
Docket NumberNo. 13382,13382
Citation388 So.2d 85
Parties30 UCC Rep.Serv. 240 DELTA ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION v. James GOLDMAN et al.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Louisiana — District of US

Martin C. Schroeder, Jr., Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellant, Minnie Goldman, and for intervenor-appellant, Malissa G. Alessi.

Glynn A. Long, Donaldsonville, for plaintiff-appellee, Delta Acceptance Corp.

Before ELLIS, CHIASSON and PONDER, JJ.

PONDER, Judge.

This is a suit on a promissory note. Plaintiff confirmed a default judgment from which defendants appealed.

Defendants contend that the note is usurious and therefore the mortgage should be extinguished because there is no lawful debt; that plaintiff did not bear its burden of proof to obtain a default; and that plaintiff has no right of action to the relief sought.

We reverse and remand.

Defendants' contention that plaintiff has no right of action is based upon the fact that the note was endorsed to General Electric Credit Corporation with recourse by plaintiff. The law prior to January 1, 1975 was that a note made payable to "myself" and endorsed in blank by the maker is bearer paper which can be negotiated by delivery. Houston v. McCoy, 351 So.2d 829 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1977). The instant note was bearer paper because it was originally made payable to "ourselves" and then endorsed by the makers in blank. If an instrument was originally bearer paper it remained so in spite of special endorsements. Liberty Loan Corp. of Eunice, Inc. v. Lavine, 324 So.2d 481 (La.App. 3rd Cir. 1975). However, the law was changed effective January 1, 1975, to read that:

" * * * Any instrument specially endorsed becomes payable to the order of the special endorsee and may be further negotiated only by his endorsement."1

We are unable to determine whether the negotiation to General Electric Credit Corporation was before or after the effective date of the above statute. We therefore maintain the peremptory exception of no right of action.

An exception of no right of action may be raised on an appeal. C.C.P. 927. Further, upon the sustaining of a peremptory exception the plaintiff should be allowed the opportunity to amend the petition in order to remove the grounds for the exception. C.C.P. 934. The plaintiff shall have 30 days from the finality of this judgment to amend the petition to state a right of action.

Our action on the peremptory exception of no right of action makes it unnecessary to pass on defendants' other complaints.

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  • Sajare Interests, Ltd. v. Esplanade Management, Inc.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Louisiana — District of US
    • November 14, 1984
    ...writ denied 390 So.2d 202. Plaintiffs-appellants should have been allowed to amend their petition. See Delta Acceptance Corporation v. Goldman, 388 So.2d 85 (La.App. 1 Cir.1980). However, as we reverse and deny the exceptions, there is no need to offer appellants an opportunity to We note t......

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