Citizens' Bank ex rel. the Phenix National Bank v. Baltz
Also decided on this docket: La. Ct. App. 1st Cir., October 16, 1974 301 So. 2d 687; La. Ct. App. 1st Cir., February 7, 1972 259 So. 2d 103; La. Ct. App. 1st Cir., November 21, 1958 107 So. 2d 509
Citizens' Bank ex rel. the Phenix National Bank v. Baltz, 27 La. 106 (1875).
Opinion text
Morgan J. Baltz owed a note, secured by mortgage, to the Phenix National Bank of New York The note was sent for collection to the Citizens’ Bank of Louisiana. The note was lost. *107 When it matured, Baliz expressed a willingness to pay it, provided the note was presented, in order that he might thus cause the mortgage to be erased. The Citizens’ Bank offered him a bond of indemnity if he would pay the note. This he declined. Suit was instituted against him. The only questions before us are: 1 — Whether he is liable for the interest due on the note from the maturity thereof. 2 — Whether he is responsible for counsel’s fees. 3 — Whether he should pay the costs of the act of mortgnge. And lastly, whether he should bo made to pay for the advertisement of the lost note. To the three first questions we give an affirmative answer. He could have avoided them all by depositing, or tendering a deposit of the amount of the note when it fell due, and thus putting the plaintiff in default. To the last question we say, no. He can not be made to pay for either the misfortune or the negligence of the plaintiff. It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be amended by condemning the defendant to pay to the plaintiff eight per cent, interest on one thousand dollars from the nineteenth December, 1870, until paid, six dollars costs of copy of act of sale, and fifty dollars attorney’s fees, and that as thus amended the judgment of the district court be affirmed, with costs in both courts. Rehearing refused.