Loerch v. National Bank of Commerce of Birmingham
| Decision Date | 30 July 1993 |
| Citation | 624 So.2d 552 |
| Parties | Dorothy L. LOERCH, v. NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE OF BIRMINGHAM. 1920314. |
| Court | Alabama Supreme Court |
W.S. Pritchard, Jr. and William S. Pritchard III of Pritchard, McCall & Jones, Birmingham, for appellant.
Cathy S. Wright and Cynthia G. Lamar of Maynard, Cooper, Frierson & Gale, Birmingham, for appellee.
The defendant, Dorothy L. Loerch, appeals from a declaratory judgment in favor of the plaintiff, National Bank of Commerce of Birmingham ("NBC"). We reverse and remand.
The controlling issue is whether the assignment and pledge of a jointly held certificate of deposit ("CD"), which was signed by only one joint owner even though the document itself specifically required the signature of both, is valid.
On January 9, 1990, Herbert Loerch purchased from NBC a $60,000 CD in the joint names of "Herbert J. Loerch or Dorothy L. Loerch." One week later, Mr. Loerch pledged the CD to NBC, guaranteeing payment of a line of credit extended by NBC to Jones and Associates Advertising, Inc.
Although the "Assignment and Pledge" form was signed only by Mr. Loerch, the form, which had been provided by NBC, clearly contained a provision at the bottom of the document stating that "on joint accounts or jointly held certificates of deposit (Mr. and Mrs.) all co-owners must sign this form." (C.R. 55) (Emphasis added).
Mr. Loerch died on April 10, 1991. Mrs. Loerch was advised by a notice from NBC that the CD would mature on January 9, 1992, and would be renewed for a year at the simple interest rate in effect at the time of renewal.
On January 8, 1992, NBC filed a claim against Herbert Loerch's estate, stating that the loan guaranteed by the CD was due. Mrs. Loerch, through counsel, demanded that NBC surrender the CD to her.
NBC sued Mrs. Loerch, seeking a judgment declaring that the pledge was enforceable and asking the court to enforce Herbert Loerch's pledge of the joint account as security for the past due note. Mrs. Loerch counterclaimed, seeking damages for an alleged conversion. The trial court granted NBC's motion for summary judgment on all claims and counterclaims and entered a judgment declaring the assignment and pledge valid.
We note first that it is undisputed that the CD in question was jointly held by the Loerches. That being the case, the language at the bottom of the NBC form clearly precluded the assignment of the CD without the signatures of both...
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