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Berger v. Mercantile National Bank

Supreme Court of Georgia
Feb 7, 1974
231 Ga. 680 (Ga. 1974)

Opinion

28482.

ARGUED JANUARY 16, 1974.

DECIDED FEBRUARY 7, 1974.

Certiorari to the Court of Appeals of Georgia — 129 Ga. App. 707 ( 200 S.E.2d 921).

Kaler, Karesh Frankel, Jerry L. Sims, for appellant.

Haas, Holland, Levison Gibert, Harold D. Corlew, Roland Stokes Neeson, Sr., Barry J. Wiener, for appellee.


This case is here on certiorari to the Court of Appeals. For a statement of facts see Mercantile Nat. Bank v. Berger, 129 Ga. App. 707 ( 200 S.E.2d 921). Held:

We disagree with the ruling in Division 1 of the Court of Appeals opinion and reverse that ruling. The defendant (applicant here) showed he was an accommodation maker on the negotiable note which he signed and on which the payee brought suit. Code Ann. § 109A-3-415 (Ga. L. 1962, pp. 156, 262). Thus, as between the original parties to the transaction he was a surety for the maker of the note. Accordingly under the Uniform Commercial Code all written agreements executed at the same time as part of the same transaction are admissible in this action between the original parties. Code Ann. § 109A-3-119 (Ga. L. 1962, pp. 156, 246). This is consistent with general contract law. Dyal v. Foy Shemwell, 159 Ga. 848 ( 126 S.E. 783). However, we affirm the Court of Appeals judgment because the defendant's surety agreement contains a general waiver which, in our opinion, prevents him from asserting the defense which he raised. See Greene v. Bank of Upson, 231 Ga. 287 ( 201 S.E.2d 463).

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.


ARGUED JANUARY 16, 1974 — DECIDED FEBRUARY 7, 1974.


Summaries of

Berger v. Mercantile National Bank

Supreme Court of Georgia
Feb 7, 1974
231 Ga. 680 (Ga. 1974)
Case details for

Berger v. Mercantile National Bank

Case Details

Full title:BERGER v. MERCANTILE NATIONAL BANK

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Feb 7, 1974

Citations

231 Ga. 680 (Ga. 1974)
203 S.E.2d 479

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